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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Thoughtolepsy

erasmus

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.

| Comments and Points

Sleepdeprivision

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: sleep-deh-preh-vih-zhun

Sentence: Last night I had a sleepdeprivision. Today, I am groggily wondering why I thought it was feasible to set up a full-scale hydroponic artichoke growing system in my basement.

Etymology: sleep deprivation, vision

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COMMENTS:

petaj I can't decide if your artichoke cultivation is big and brilliant (like the lighting system required to run such a thing) or dark and scary (there's got to be a reason why basements figure so boldly in murder movies) - petaj, 2007-04-09: 04:58:00

petaj Oh and nice work with sleep deprivation. I went down that path, but no lightbulb moment on fitting in the idea bit. - petaj, 2007-04-09: 05:00:00

The lighting system did throw me a curve, as did where I would relocate my washer, dryer, furnace, and resident spiders. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 05:59:00

knew right away it was your word - very clever - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-09: 12:59:00

Wow, I didn't realize I was that verbobvious. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-09: 14:10:00

That has a nice ring to it. - jedijawa, 2007-04-09: 23:58:00

hydropon my word! - galwaywegian, 2007-04-10: 05:17:00

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| Comments and Points

Inspirwaketion

playdohheart

Created by: playdohheart

Pronunciation: in-sper-wake-shun

Sentence: I was just about to fall asleep when I had a sudden inspirwaketion that the meaning of life just might be 42.

Etymology: Inspiration + wake

| 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 and Points

Snoozeflash

Created by: Koekbroer

Pronunciation: snooz-flash

Sentence: Rachel was just about to drop off when she had a sudden snoozeflash which woke her up and sent her mind racing for the rest of the night.

Etymology: "snooze", as in sleep and "flash" from "newsflash"

| Comments and Points

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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| Comments and Points

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:

petaj 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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| Comments and Points

Cogiwake

libertybelle

Created by: libertybelle

Pronunciation: coj-ee-wake

Sentence: Instead of getting the much needed slumber before her big trial, Bianca spent the night cogiwaking about the prospect of spending the next ten years behind bars. Too tired to testify her defense well, poor Bianca was ultimately sentenced to life.

Etymology: cogitate + awake

| Comments and Points

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

| Comments and Points

Pilloetic

CharlieB

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)

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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