Vote for the best verboticism.

'Honey, are you awake?'

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.

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Verboticisms

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You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.

Drowsiphany

zrotv

Created by: zrotv

Pronunciation: drouz-ĭf'ə-nē

Sentence: My eyelids were weighted and thoughts diffused to nothingness as sleep was to take hold momentarily. Suddenly I had a drowsiphany. It was in that sedate state the the schematics for the flux-capacitor became clear as day.

Etymology: Drowse (To be half-asleep) + epiphany (A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.)

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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

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Thoughtywink

petaj

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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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)

| Comments and Points

Nightbulbmoment

Created by: lumina

Pronunciation: night/bulb/moment

Sentence: Joe didn't didn't get much sleep last night because his wife had another nightbulbmoment.

Etymology: Obvious isn't it? This was a hard one. :)

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COMMENTS:

I've had them,too! - Nosila, 2008-06-21: 02:14:00

Ilike it; great word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:32:00

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Insomnobsession

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: in - som - nob - SESH - uhn

Sentence: Dewayne was experiencing yet another of his frequent bouts of insomnobsession, a plight that often befell him when his fertile imagination would trigger images of either exciting events or impending doom just at bedtime, and he knew it would be dawn before he fell asleep, if he slept at all.

Etymology: Blend of insomnia and obsession.

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Pillowned

Created by: Erikv

Pronunciation: Pill loaned

Sentence: With baggy eyes and a tired mind he knew effects from being pillowned last night would beer with him for the rest of the day.

Etymology: Pillow plus owned

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Albthought

Created by: jonobo

Pronunciation: alb like the alps + thought like contrary of thoughdrought.

Sentence: Just another albthought to keep the carousel spinning...

Etymology: Alb from german Albtraum, the german word for nightmare + thought ... english version should have been: Thoughtmare...

| Comments and Points

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:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-09: 00:03:00
Thank you to Dan Pink for sponsoring this week's Right-Brain Verbotomy Contest and creativity prize. ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-09: 11:29:00
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.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-10: 00:07:00
Thanks toadstool57. We're just trying to create some environmentally friendly ideas. ~ James

OZZIEBOB - 2008-06-21: 19:35:00
Excellent.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-26: 02:14:00
Today's definition was suggested by wordmeister. Thank you wordmeister. ~ James