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
Ideapnea
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: ahy-dee-ap-NEE-uh
Sentence: Bob, a lateral-thinking, horror film addict, was woken a thousand times nightly by his ideapnea, including frightening bouts of zedlesspookia.
Etymology: IDEA: Thought, conception, notion & APNEA: a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring during sleep (sleep apnea)often waking the sufferer hundreds of times a night. With Bob it his crazy ideas that wake him up- ask Roxie.
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COMMENTS:
Wish I'd thought of it....great word! - Mustang, 2008-06-20: 06:10:00
great - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:06:00
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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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Bedspiration
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: bed-spi-ray-shun
Sentence: Clair's bedspiration helped her to finally finish her second symphony. All she had to do was move the piano into the bedroom and move Gustav out of it since there wasn't room for both him and the piano.
Etymology: bed + bedspread + inspiration: sudden creative act or idea; stimulation of the mind or feelings to special activity or creativity
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COMMENTS:
Bedspiration can be hard on matressimony. - artr, 2009-10-26: 14:47:00
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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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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)
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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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
Entreprenopeneyed
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: on te pren owe pen eyed
Sentence: he lay entreprenopeneyed, replaying marketing pitches for his ear divot pillows.
Etymology: entrepreneur, open eyed.
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
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