Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To prevent someone from participating in an undesired activity by engaging them in another activity which makes it impossible to do the first. n. Two things cannot be done at the same time.
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.
Snubstitution
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /SNUB-sti-too-shun/
Sentence: Amanda had learned that when her boyfriend was arguing with her, the best thing to do was turn on the TV and tune in the sports channel. By using snubstitution, she could give his aggression another target. He would still be yelling and shouting, but gradually his attention would shift to the athletes and announcers on the TV instead of screaming at her. Also, sometimes when he was trying to be sweet, Don would serenade her in public, but he had a lousy singing voice — so she would just kiss him repeatedly until he gave up.
Etymology: Snub - to suddenly check or stop the action of; to reject (from Old Norse, snubba "to curse, scold, reprove") + Substitution - something which the place of something else; replacement (from Latin, substitutus "put in place of another")
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COMMENTS:
Like your word and sentence - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 08:20:00
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Subterguile
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: SUB - ter - gile
Sentence: Ambrosia employed a two pronged game of subterguile on her couch potato fiance, Guilford, first distracting him with alluring smiles and suggestions and then offering other options to lure him away from another weeked of non stop gaming with his LAN buddies on his computer.
Etymology: Blend of subterfuge and beguile
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COMMENTS:
Inspired choice of names. Ambrosia and Guilford, Troilus and Cressida, Romeo and Juliet - petaj, 2008-05-22: 06:15:00
excellent - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-22: 13:40:00
Beguiling! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 18:56:00
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Predispaversion
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: pree-dis-puh-vur-zhuh
Sentence: When Janet noticed her boyfriend, Jamie's propensity for chewing on pens, she decided to treat his bad habit with predispaversion. She dipped all the pens in the house in hot sauce. Her little experiment backfired when he developed a taste for the fiery concoction and almost doubled their food and pen budget. She also got burned the other morning when she wrote her self a note with one of her mangled pens just before applying her eye shadow.
Etymology: predisposition (tendency to a condition or quality, usually based on the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors) + aversion (a strong feeling of dislike, opposition, repugnance, or antipathy)
Cullduggery
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: kuhl-DUHG_uh-ree
Sentence: Roxie disrailed any of Bob's less- than-desirable activities through a strict program of cullduggery.
Etymology: CULL: Something picked out and put aside or removed as unrequired; SKULLDUGGERY:Instance(s) of less than desirable behaviour. Deception, dishonesty, trickery.
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COMMENTS:
very clever - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-22: 13:34:00
Cullever word, Bob! - Nosila, 2008-05-22: 20:41:00
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Subterguile
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: SUB - ter - gile
Sentence: Wilhelmena employed a two pronged game of subterguile on her couch potato fiance, Rutherford, first distracting him with alluring smiles and suggestions and then offering other options to lure him away from another weeked of non stop on-line gaming with his buddies on his computer.
Etymology: Blend of 'subterfuge' (A deceptive stratagem or device) and 'guile' (deceitful cunning)
Solitarsking
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: soll-it-asking
Sentence: It helps to be good at solitarsking when working with preschoolers and trying to avoid little fingers getting up to mischief.
Etymology: solitary (single, one) + task (job, activity) inspired by the term multitasking which is really what is expected when the boss says you need to be multiskilled.
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COMMENTS:
Clever blend,. Took me a while to catch on to it. I too 'toyed' with the unitasking concept for while. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 08:26:00
Actually could have used psycholdoggy here as well. Keep throwing a stick so the dog can't lick his unmentionables. - petaj, 2008-05-23: 02:36:00
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Divertrickery
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Dy-ver-trik-eree
Sentence: To stop Ted's disgusting smoking habit, Sue thought she would try a bit of divertrickery, so she invested in a computer generated football game(football being his passion). Soon he was so engrossed in the game that all thoughts of smoking were forgotten, after all it does take two hands to use the control pad.
Etymology: Divert(to distract attention away from) + Trickery(A skilful act or scheme intended to outwit someone) = Divertrickery
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COMMENTS:
I like it. - Mustang, 2008-05-22: 06:43:00
nice - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-22: 13:36:00
Very good word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 18:59:00
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Nulltitasking
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: null/tee/task/ing
Sentence: He got absolutely nothing accomplished once he began nulltitasking.
Etymology: null + multitasking
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COMMENTS:
Seems like it's time for an annulment- or at least some sort of annulitasking? - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 18:50:00
Good word, though null and void where prohibited by law... - Nosila, 2008-05-22: 20:39:00
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Haltitasking
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: hôltētasking
Sentence: Sharon can't stand it when her husband has nothing to do, defined as spending hours playing video games. To keep this from happening she makes sure to keep a full complement of haltitasking items on his honey-do list. Today he is cleaning the dental molding on all the furniture with a toothbrush.
Etymology: halt (bring or come to an abrupt stop) + multitasking (the simultaneous execution of more than one program or task)
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COMMENTS:
good word - Nosila, 2009-07-02: 13:20:00
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Vacilasectomy
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: va/sil/ah/sec/tummy
Sentence: After his vacilasectomy Jim couldn't bear the thought of staying focussed on anything for more than a few seconds.
Etymology: vacillate + vasectomy
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COMMENTS:
Funny & nicely blended word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 08:18:00
One of those words that makes men cross their legs.. - Nosila, 2008-05-22: 20:43:00
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Comments:
Today's definition is inspired by the "Joy of Incompatible Behaviors". It's Amy Sutherland's secret weapon for dealing with people who have annoying habits which they can't seem to control. The secret is not to try to stop them, but rather get them on another track. See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James
Today's definition is inspired by the "Joy of Incompatible Behaviors". It's Amy Sutherland's secret weapon for dealing with people who have annoying habits which they can't seem to control. The secret is not to try to stop them, but rather get them on another track. See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James