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.
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)
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.
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"
Thoughtywink
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)
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
excellent word - Jabberwocky, 2008-06-20: 13:05:00
Excelent. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-06-21: 19:36:00
----------------------------
Pillowjostler
Created by: hobodad
Pronunciation: pillow-jostler
Sentence: I had such a pillowjostler of an idea last night I didn't get to sleep till cock-crow
Etymology:
Nocturtrance
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: nok-ter-trance
Sentence: She kept her blackberry under her pillow on this night so she could record her nocturtrances.
Etymology: nocturnal + trance
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Insomnipiphany
Created by: PythianHabenero
Pronunciation: in-som-ni-pi-fa-nee
Sentence: Annette suffered an insomnipiphany and was unable to sleep the rest of the night.
Etymology: insomnia + epiphany
Snortle
Created by: jrogan
Pronunciation: snor-til
Sentence: My wife kept snortling all night long and I could sleep either...
Etymology: snort-tell
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