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.
Eyeswideopener
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: eyes/wyde/open/ur
Sentence: Just as I was falling asleep I was struck with an eyeswideopener, one of those ridiculous brainstorms that fade with the morning light, unlike my eyes which remain red all week
Etymology: eye opener (shocking revelation) + wide open
Subcognitans
Created by: darkXshadow
Pronunciation: sub/kog/neet/ans
Sentence: one of my briliant subcognitans kept me up all night last night.
Etymology: sub coming from subito, meaning sudden. cogn coming from cognito, meaning knowledge. itans coming from suscitans, meaning awakening.
Nightbulb
Created by: wordmeister
Pronunciation: nite-bulb
Sentence: Roger had a nightbulb so dark and brilliant that he couldn't sleep for week. Finally, his wife pulled the plug on the idea, and he rested...
Etymology: night + lightbulb
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COMMENTS:
Good one! - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 09:49:00
Strangely enough, I couldn't sleep last night, so this one was easy. - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 11:45:00
appropriate for spring planting - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:19:00
This should win. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 15:39:00
re: spring planting -- Yes, blooming deep shade tulips - wordmeister, 2007-04-09: 18:20:00
I like the mental image that goes with that one! - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:51:00
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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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Nocturntoss
Created by: lauramy
Pronunciation: nok-tern-toss
Sentence: The thought of anchovies dipped in fudge sauce sent me into an all night fit of nocturntoss.
Etymology: nocturnal + turn + toss
Nighdea
Created by: LankyJane
Pronunciation: [nye DEAR]/[nye DEE uh]
Sentence: I got no sleep last night, all because of this one bright nighdea.
Etymology: From "night" and "idea". The kind of idea that only comes to you late at night, particularly when you're almost asleep.
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COMMENTS:
Perfect! - lumina, 2008-06-20: 09:56:00
like it - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:07:00
good one - Nosila, 2008-06-21: 02:13:00
Very good. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:34:00
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Pilloetic
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: pill-oh-et-ik
Sentence: At night Roy’s haikus Keep him and his wife awake: He’s pilloetic.
Etymology: pillow (a cloth case used to support the head) + poetic (of or relating to poetry)
Premonstermare
Created by: Bulletchewer
Pronunciation: pre-mun-stir-mayr
Sentence: Dennis Skinner's premonstermare of a plot to quietly poison and thus kill the terrifying legacy of his beloved Mrs Thatcher caused the beast to stir more than a junkie's coffee.
Etymology: From "pre-" meaning "before", "premonition" meaning "inappropriate and patronizing", "monster" meaning "Mrs Thatcher" and "mare" meaning "Mrs Thatcher/old, barely-female horse".
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COMMENTS:
Huh? premonition - inappropriate and patronizing. Some subtlety there I just can't see - maybe a Dennis Skinner quote? - petaj, 2007-04-09: 07:18:00
A dream that occurs right before PMS. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 14:50:00
Premonition doesn't fit here, hence inappropriate. The fact I explain "pre-" is patronizing. Contrived as ever. No Skinner quote, just nods at "the Beast of Bolsover", as he is affectionately known. But if you're looking for references, did you get all/any of the Zeppelin refs for my word "gallowsbeaver"? - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-09: 15:44:00
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Laxidazical
Created by: efreet69
Pronunciation: laks-e-DAZE-e-kal
Sentence: After the stomach problems following bean taco night, the experience left him in a laxidazical state.
Etymology:
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