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.
Chatterbrain
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: chat-er-breyn
Sentence: Jim hates it when Jill has an idea just before they fall asleep. She is such a chatterbrain that he can hear her thinking. Jim's thought for the night - No sleep for Jim.
Etymology: chatter (to talk rapidly in a foolish or purposeless way; jabber) + brain (the center of thought, understanding) a play on chatterbox
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)
Wiseawake
Created by: rebelvin
Pronunciation: WISE+AWAKE
Sentence: After working all day, I finally thought of the solution so perfect it kept me wiseawake all night.
Etymology: WISE+AWAKE
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COMMENTS:
Now why didn't I think of that one! Perfect! - lumina, 2008-06-21: 10:25:00
Good word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00
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Awakenspiration
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: away ken spir ay shun
Sentence: Not again, Joe moaned. He had nary a new thought all day long, but instead got one as he started to try and sleep. His awakenspiration not only kept him alert all night, but also his wife. "I'm going to have to get on the night shift at work", he thought...
Etymology: Awake (not asleep) & Inspiration (Idea;a product of your creative thinking)
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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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
Ahawake
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: ähäwāk
Sentence: The revelation that Julia had just as she was about to doze off kept her ahawake all night. It only took her 18 years and a chance encounter on Facebook but she now was certain she knew who her real father was and why her mother kept it secret.
Etymology: aha (used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise) + awake (not asleep)
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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Mullidget
Created by: pinwheel
Pronunciation: mull/id/jet
Sentence: When Jimmy worked out a way to avoid doing the washing up ever again, it was such a mullidget he was tossing and turning all night.
Etymology: mull + idea + fidget
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COMMENTS:
I love this word except for it makes me think that perhaps the reason for being awake is considering mullets.
But it would have had my vote if I hadn't voted already. - playdohheart, 2007-04-09: 04:37:00
Or considering midgets, or midget mullets. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:51:00
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Nightware
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: NITE-ware
Sentence: I was up all last night with the the craziest nightware...what if there was some kind of global supercomputer where anyone could look up any kind of knowledge?
Etymology: nightmare, aware
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