Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A misheard or misunderstood lyric, which gives the song a completely different meaning than originally intended. v. To misinterpret a song because you "hear" different words than the ones actually being sung.
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.
Melohdear
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mel o deer
Sentence: Jackie Chan was motivated by a 1966 hit by Johnny Rivers. He said it inspired him to play the tough guys in all his many movies. While learning the English language, the melohdear which inspired his career was "Secret Asian Man"!
Etymology: Melody (tune;musical notes in sequence) & Oh Dear (worrying phrase when something goes wrong, like Oh, My;Oh, Drat, etc)
Mondegreen
Created by: theodrixx
Pronunciation: Mawn-deh-green
Sentence: I discovered a mondegreen just the other day; I heard Jimi Hendrix's lyrics in Purple Haze, "excuse me while I kiss the sky" as being "excuse me while I kiss this guy."
Etymology: Named for an instance of this phenomenon during a reading of a poem, where in the line "and laid him on the green" was heard as "and Lady Mondegreen."
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COMMENTS:
nice one - galwaywegian, 2010-11-17: 18:52:00
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Wrongbird
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: rôngbərd
Sentence: Marsha is a regular wrongbird. She and her friends love to go out to the local karaoke bar and sing their hearts out. Often her vanity that prevents her from wearing her glasses combines with her active imagination to create a hysterical new set of lyrics. "Excuse me while I kiss this guy"
Etymology: wrong (not correct or true) + songbird (a bird with a musical song)
Inaudiblexic
Created by: DrWebsterIII
Pronunciation: in - od" e be - lek - sik
Sentence: Once again, Patrick's inaudiblexicness had him removed from yet another concert, as it was annoying to both the other patrons as well the performer.
Etymology: inaudible (inabillity to hear correctly) + dyslexic (impairment, from result of brain injury)
Singawrong
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: sing a rong
Sentence: His singawrong in Dallas ended when he sang "Reminds me of my doctor's glove, Deep in the Heart of Texas".
Etymology: Sing a long (informal group singing of popular songs) & Wrong (incorrect;not appropriate for a purpose or occasion)
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COMMENTS:
You really know how to do a singawrong Alison! Opps I mean Nosila...lol too funny... - abrakadeborah, 2009-05-05: 01:48:00
funny - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:20:00
Sounds like a Jackie Chan Musical to me...and I rov Jackie Chan! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:16:00
I love this one. So simple and perfect. - hyperborean, 2009-05-06: 10:23:00
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Answerblowsinyourwind
Created by: abrakadeborah
Pronunciation: An-sir-blows-in-your-wind
Sentence: Dylan,sings as people hear Answerblowsinyourwind missing the meaning.
Etymology: Answer: A reply to another person or people by singing or speaking or as a written reply,as to a question. Blows: To cause to move by means of a current of by expeling (air) from the mouth as in singing. In: Located inside;inner,incoming; inward.(such as in your mind in your ears or memory) Your:Of, belonging to, or associated with you. Wind:Moving air carrying sound (In this case lyrics of music that blows like a wind through your mind as you process what you think you are hear. Such as > "The Answer My Twin Is Bowling In The Bin" :)~
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COMMENTS:
that was an exhausting etymology but worth getting to the end to read the last bit - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:17:00
Ah come on Jabber...you know you have enough time to read...LOL! OK JUST foryou I broke it down to a smaller etymology :) Thx though for liking atleast part of it :)) I can't help I'm a detailed artist...hehehe - abrakadeborah, 2009-05-06: 06:58:00
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Misunderheard
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: mis-under-herd
Sentence: Grandma shrugged, "You kids today with your hippity-hop and stupid lyrics -- why when I was young we had songs with meaning!" She sighed wistfully and began to sing to herself, "Knock, knock, knocking on Kevin's door." Grandpa stood up, "You've been singing that song wrong for the past 50 years, old woman. It's "Knock, knock knockin' on heaven's door" for crying out loud." "Well, I guess I misunderheard the lyrics, excuuuuuse me. And if you correct me again in front of the grandkids you'll be knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door sooner than you think."
Etymology: misunderstood: improperly understood or interpreted + heard
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COMMENTS:
wonderful word... - mweinmann, 2009-05-05: 08:34:00
I just noticed that you used one of the same song title's in your sentence as I did....only I think Kevin is funnier tha Evan!!! - mweinmann, 2009-05-05: 08:34:00
There's a herd of misunderheard today! Goodjob, mrsk! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:15:00
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Lieric
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: lie-rik
Sentence: it was only years later that he realised that singing 'Gold Blank Sign' on new years eve was a lieric embarrassment.
Etymology: lie, lyric
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COMMENTS:
terrific - Jabberwocky, 2009-05-05: 11:17:00
Should Bald Acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind... - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:13:00
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Mystlyrical
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: mist/leer/i/cal
Sentence: One of the funniest mystlyricals I've heard was an interpretation of a line from the Eagles Hotel California 'On a dark desert highway, cool whip in my hair'
Etymology: mystical (secret)+ lyric + missed
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COMMENTS:
It's a lot like verbotomy...You can check out, but you can never leave! - Nosila, 2009-05-05: 22:17:00
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Oopsydittie
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: oōpsēditē
Sentence: Everybody was used to hearing Jeff humming his favorite song as he went through his day. What they didn’t know until last Saturday night at the karaoke was that Jeff’s head contained an oopsydittie. As he belted out his fave, his friends realized he hadn’t gotten a single lyric right.
Etymology: oops (used to show recognition of a mistake or minor accident, often as part of an apology) + upsy-daisy (used to express encouragement to a child who has fallen or is being lifted) + dittie (a short simple song)
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl (misinterpreted words) and by abrakadeborah (misinterpreted meanings). And of course, by Bob Dylan's classic song about doing the laundry -- Blowing in the Wind ~ James
abrakadeborah - 2009-05-05: 01:02:00
Thank you James~ Cartoon was great! & To mrskellyscl,Oh how I can relate to that one! I have an ex boyfriend that no matter what song he hears NONE of the words match as he tries to sing along! Too funny! :) LOL
Today's definition was suggested by mrskellyscl. Thank you mrskellyscl. ~ James