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.
Sublimatention
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: sub-lim-a-ten-shen
Sentence: Karen used sublimatention successfully to redirect Ron's focus from a bad behavior to a good one. Now, instead of nose mining in public, he cleans his glasses.
Etymology: subliminal: below the threshold of conscious perception + sublimate: direct energy from a socially improper behavior to an acceptable one + mate: spouse + attention: concentrated focus of the mind
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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Rehabitulate
Created by: milorush
Pronunciation: (n.) rē'kə-bĭch'ə-lāt'; (tr.v.) rē'kə-bĭch'ə-lā'shən
Sentence: In recent years, an effective form of rehabitulation for incessant smokers has proven to be non-stop eating -- doctors, however, are not convinced the disease isn't worse than the cure.
Etymology: re- = "again" + hab[it] + [cap]itulation = "the act of surrendering"
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COMMENTS:
Nice blend. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 19:00:00
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Disattraction
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dis at trak shun
Sentence: Whenever Betsy was being quizzed by her skinflint husband, Cyril, about her spending, she would slip into a sexy nightie and make him forget about finances by being a big disattraction to him.
Etymology: Distraction (an entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexations) & Attraction (the quality of arousing interest; being attractive or something that attracts)
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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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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Distractitask
Created by: pieceof314
Pronunciation: di-strakt-ih-task
Sentence: "Hey Jim, look over here! Pie!" Mary vigorously pointed to the counter where a freshly baked pie was waiting to be dished out, trying to think of a way to get him to stop playing pocket pool. Jim's eyebrows raised as he took his hands from out of his pockets to reach for a plate. Just then, Mary's best friend walked in. The distractitask was successful.
Etymology: distract + task
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COMMENTS:
a bit disdrastic but cunning - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-22: 13:36:00
This aint just "Pie in the Sky" stuff. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 18:58:00
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Distractionhero
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: diss trak shun heero
Sentence: Hazel Nutt was not just a good homemaker, despite the fact that her spouse paid her peanuts to keep the house. Unbeknownst to her family and friends, she became a distraction hero on the weekends. Her mission, should she choose to accept it, was to break all the other nuts of their bad habits. Some were shell-shocked, some would pine, some would get caught pecan at things they shouldn't, some were pistachio every night after happy hour and some were just plain mixed nuts. Her spouse, Wal Nutt was one of the worst offenders, but she'd crack him yet. He was almond to be reckoned with and she knew if she ever wanted to run off to be with the handsome Filbert, living among the Brazil Nuts, she'd have to distractionhero Wall Nutt somehow. One night when Wall Nutt was again peanut attention to her, she put on classical music on their stereo. As he dreamily listened to the music, she smuckered up behind him and conked him on the head with a hammer. Yes, and she had picked the perfect Tchaikcashewsky music to do it to, too...The Nutcracker Sweet!
Etymology: Distraction (the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something or an entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexations) + Action Hero (someone who saves the day and uses their powers to fight for a cause)
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COMMENTS:
Luv your "nutty" sentece. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 18:55:00
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Distractivity
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: dis-trac-tiv-i-ty
Sentence: Jill learned to keep a distractivity in her purse for social situations with Jack. If he became bored, he would get into trouble. At her mother's dinner party she heard him start a lively conversation about the elections with Uncle Will. Quickly, she pulled a Game Boy out of her purse and sent him into the game room to wait for dinner.
Etymology: distract: divert attention + activity: an educational aid designed to stimulate learning through hands-on experience
Incompaticake
Created by: diyan627
Pronunciation: in cum pat eee cayk
Sentence: Barry is so dense...Nina plays incompaticake with him all the time to get him to stop doing things she doesn't like.
Etymology: incompatible + patty cake (game that would entertain a nearly primordial person :) The funny thing is, this is a real definition out there in Behavior Analysis Academia.. The real term for the technique is called Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible behaviors (DRI)
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COMMENTS:
wonderful etymology - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-22: 13:38:00
Is incompaticake the same as wedding -cake? - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 18:53:00
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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