Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. An idea that pops into your head just before you fall asleep, which is so big and brilliant, or else so dark and scary, that it keeps you awake all night long. v. To lie awake in bed with a head full of big dreams.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Thoughtmare
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: thawt-mare
Sentence: Jill couldn't get to sleep because a thoughtmare was keeping her mind working too fast to get any rest.
Etymology: thought + nightmare
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COMMENTS:
Another great word! - Stevenson0, 2007-04-09: 20:48:00
I like the sound of this word, though I want to use it for the sorts of nonsensically horrifying idea-dreams that run through my head when I'm asleep enough to dream, but awake enough to know that the ideas don't make sense. - ErWenn, 2007-04-09: 22:47:00
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Kawinkythink
Created by: mplsbohemian
Pronunciation: kuh-WIHNK-ee-THIHNK
Sentence: Alex's kawinkythink had him tossing and turning all night--why not a marshmallow creme and jelly sandwich?
Etymology: kawinkydink (folk etymology pronunciation of "coincidence") + wink (as in "forty winks") + think = the coincidence of trying to sleep and having a thought
Eurekaffeine
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: you-ree-caff-een
Sentence: 3 nights in a row he suffered from such severe eurekaffeine that he felt like his brain may explode
Etymology: eureka! caffeine
Thinksomnia
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: think som neeya
Sentence: Apparently he was too busy or preoccupied to think during his busy day, but Joe Einstein got his best ideas at night just before or after he went to sleep and ended up thinking of all the possibilies/obstructions/refinements to his ideas all night. To the point he could not get to sleep. He had thinksomnia real bad and it was only when he actually committed these ideas to paper while he was "on" that he remembered enough of them in the morning to put them in motion. But this meant turning on a light, writing for hours and keeping his wife Mona awake, too. It was not until he had another bright idea one night that she approved of his nocturnal brilliance. He invented a sleeprecorder and told it all his ideas as he got them, so that he could replay in the morning and capitalize on his great ideas!
Etymology: Think (ideas;imagine;visualize;an instance of deliberate thinking) & Insomnia (an inability to sleep; chronic sleeplessness)
Fortythinks
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: for/tee/th/inks
Sentence: Joe was restless, sleep deprived, in and out of consciousness and in the state of fortythinks, filled with the brilliant ideas on how he was going to become a partner in the firm at 29 years of age.
Etymology: FORTYTHINKS - noun - from FORTYWINKS (a short light sleep) + THINKS (as in thoughts, ideas)
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COMMENTS:
excellent word - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:05:00
Excelent. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00
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Thoughtywink
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: th-or-tee-wink
Sentence: Being a particularly creative type, Michelangelo was prone to thoughtywinks which allowed him only very light sleep for extremely short periods. He longed for a solid night of deep sleep.
Etymology: thought (mental process that generates ideas) + forty winks (a short light nap)
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COMMENTS:
Almost as good as "thoughtdiscount". Gets a vote. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 05:27:00
Cute word! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 06:00:00
Also sounds like "naughty winks" -- gets my vote. - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 23:05:00
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Insomniaha
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: in som nee a ha
Sentence: It's like Wayne's brain was frozen all day, but when he did get brilliant ideas, it was just before he was getting ready to sleep. Then he would get his insomniaha moment. He finally learned to write these brain revolutions down, as inevitably he would be so tired the next day that he would forget his inspirations. That's when he would get amnesiaohnooooo!
Etymology: Insomnia (an inability to sleep) & Aha (expression used to describe triumph, surprise or "I get it!")
Sominixon
Created by: toadstool57
Pronunciation: som-i-nix-on
Sentence: Nixion experienced many nights of soninixon as thoughts of Big scandels marched in his head.
Etymology: sominex, sleeping meds/ nix, as in Not/Nixion, the president that spent many sleepless nights.
Inspirosomnia
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: in spy ro som nee ya
Sentence: Terry was just dropping off to a much needed sleep, when the idea hit like a ton of bricks! "That's what I'll do"..."I can have a makeover, do some lypo, get collagen and botox shots, get some extensions, buy a new wardrobe, take singing & dancing lessons and debut in Vegas! It'll be great! I'll wear glamourous gowns and be the toast of the town!" All night ideas and thoughts continued to churn, until the clock showed it was 6:00 am and not a wink of sleep had occurred. Finally Emma spoke and she asked him, "Terry, I heard you talking in your sleep, but you weren't really asleep... are you really going to quit your job as a mechanic to become a showgirl???"
Etymology: Inspire (fill with revolutionary ideas; stimulate the mind) & insomnia (an inability to sleep; chronic sleeplessness)
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COMMENTS:
very nice blend - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:07:00
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Comments:
Thank you to Dan Pink for sponsoring this week's Right-Brain Verbotomy Contest and creativity prize. ~ James
What happened last week? Read Verbotoweek! A look back at last week's wickedest words and funniest comments... Edited by "Weeklink", one of our top players who from some reason, perhaps self-preservation, prefers to remain anonymous! See: Verbotoweek in the Verbotomy Blog.
Bulletchewer - 2007-04-09: 15:52:00
Wonder if this happened to Thomas Edison. Oh, and in a related piece of propaganda, vote for Wordmeister's "Nightbulb"! PS Great (if slightly embarrassing) blog!
wordmeister - 2007-04-09: 18:04:00
Hey Bulletchewer, Thanks for the vote of support! I guess I managed to skip through my own premonstermare without getting trampled...
Bulletchewer - 2007-04-09: 18:37:00
Just wondering if anyone else is ineligible for this week's contest. Who's up for a Sir Geoffrey?
toadstool57 - 2007-04-09: 21:34:00
James - cool that you spotlighted CFLs.
Thanks toadstool57. We're just trying to create some environmentally friendly ideas. ~ James
OZZIEBOB - 2008-06-21: 19:35:00
Excellent.
Today's definition was suggested by wordmeister. Thank you wordmeister. ~ James