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
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)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
very nice blend - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:07:00
----------------------------
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".
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Snoozepiration
Created by: CanMon
Pronunciation:
Sentence: As I settled comfortably beneath my covers, snoozepiration hit and I found myself jumping out of bed to get back to work.
Etymology: Combination of Snooze and Inspiration.
Thoughtolepsy
Created by: erasmus
Pronunciation: thought o lepsy
Sentence: thoughtolepsy struck Edward like 3 shots of espresso taken intravenously.
Etymology: from narcolepsy a sleep disorder and thought.
Eurekapnea
Created by: tbAG84
Pronunciation: yu-reek-ap-nii-ah
Sentence: "Johnson this new forecast model you put together last night is spot on! I'd have you in front of the board right now if it wasnt for the bags under youre eyes." "Thank you sir i have my eurekapnea to thank for both of them."
Etymology: Eureka moment- a moment of sudden and profopund insight. Apnea: A sleep condition that results in innability to sleep for long periods
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
cute word - Nosila, 2009-10-27: 01:18:00
----------------------------
Eurekathought
Created by: josje
Pronunciation: eureka thought
Sentence: i dont want to go to sleep i´ve just got an eurekathought.
Etymology: thinking and eureka.
Reveilleation
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: reh/vell/ee/ay/shun
Sentence: I was just settling down for a long winter's nap when a reveilleation so earth shattering occurred to me that I couldn't get a wink of sleep. I was also convinced that something was stuck in our chimney.
Etymology: reveille (military wake-up signal)+ revelation
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Clever blend. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:34:00
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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