Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. Embarrassing pet behavior; may be perfectly natural for the pet, but often makes humans feel self-conscious or ill at ease. v. To be embarrassed by your pet's beahviour
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.
Petabarrassment
Created by: totalyclipse
Pronunciation: pet a barr assment
Sentence: He was diagnosed with petabarrassment.
Etymology: Said to be from Greek penta (five) with the middle letter removed, as if the previously coined prefix tera- had been formed in the same way from Greek tetra (four).
Birdition
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: burd/i/shun
Sentence: I always feel like I'm in birdition when I visit Jill's house. She has canarys that fly free and deposit loads of bird crap and feathers on me.
Etymology: bird + perdition (anguish, nether world)
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COMMENTS:
It's brave soul who walks the road to birdition. Take a raincoat. - petaj, 2007-04-27: 21:02:00
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Prehumptuous
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /pri-HUHMP-choo-uhs/
Sentence: After his incarceration in 'the pen', and his subsequent release into society, Fido displayed behavior that could only be described as prehumptuous. Fido's owner, Owen, could scarcely have a date drop by his apartment, or even his own mother, without Fido first pawing and then birddogging them. Needless to say, that made for some quite embarrassing visits.
Etymology: Presumptuous - impertinently bold behavior; forwardness (from Latin, præsumere "to take beforehand") & Hump - [as in 'humping'] a bad pet habit often displayed by canines; and particularly Fido! (slang origin of the word is uncertain; first published use in 1785)
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COMMENTS:
Great words this week everyone. Been travelling a lot, so I know this is way late, but I couldn't help adding my complaints about that absolute hound, Fido. Sorry metro, but he really is a "Bad Dog!!" - Tigger, 2008-07-06: 03:46:00
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Undognified
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: un - dog - nif - fide
Sentence: Marissa's was embarrassed at Fido's undognified behavior on Thanksgiving. Although he was affectionate and housebroken, he thrust his head under Aunt Mabel's skirt repeatedly, grabbed a piece of Turkey from Uncle Fester's mouth and exhibited sexual behavior on Grandpa's leg while Grandpa ate his Pumpkin Pie.
Etymology: undignified (lacking dignity), dog
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COMMENTS:
good one! - Nosila, 2009-11-13: 12:13:00
heh! - galwaywegian, 2009-11-14: 14:33:00
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Crotchsniff
Created by: playdohheart
Pronunciation: crotch-sniff
Sentence: "I... don't put dog food in my pants," Mary said, awkwardly fending off the dog's crotchsniff. She was awful at first dates.
Etymology: "crotch sniff" possibly the most embarrassing experience with another person's pet
Faunagaffe
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: FA-NUH-GAF
Sentence: Rescued from an animal shelter in her youth, KATIECAT returned my affection by killing a rabbit and bringing it home. The neighborhood children were grossed out by this feline FAUNAGAFFE, but they're sure to experience many more examples of misguided animal behavior as they grow up.
Etymology: FAUNA-animals in general + GAFFE- a socially inappropriate act or faux pas (Fr- false step)
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COMMENTS:
True story-exceeded only by the boorish behavior of irresponsible pet owner apologists whose permissive approach to animal discipline results in the alarming rise of leg-humping incidents, pit bull attacks and random neighborhood defecation incidents.
- metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:40:00
verbotomists really struck a nerve with all the FIDO references today - we are into the dogdays of summer though so not surprising you would get so dogmatic about it - love your word btw - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-04: 10:33:00
Metro, do you really want us to BIRDen you with CATastrophic tails of PETophilia? As a proud owner of many species, we all know that the little rascals are capable of many ASPects of antihuman social behavior.I could get HORSE talking about my experiences on this animal planet, but truly dogs do drool the most, even though hamsters are gnawty, guinea pigs squeal on you, bunnies carrot not a bit about your feelings, turtles are shell-shocked, lizards lounge at will and fish annoy you just for the halibut. Budgies won't budge, canaries sing to the authorities and cats, well they'd be good poker players, not a shred of emotion shown on their smug faces. But keep up the good words...we are all fauned of you! - Nosila, 2008-07-05: 00:16:00
Seems like Katiecat's faunagaffe is largely fawnagaffe. Another top word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 06:54:00
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Mortifido
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: more-ti-FIE-do
Sentence: The mortifido exhibited by Angie's cockupspaniel completely destroyed the dog show arena and left Angie with a sheep(dog)ish look on her face
Etymology: mortified + Fido
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COMMENTS:
"cockupspaniel"... that's priceless! - pinwheel, 2007-04-27: 07:07:00
Very good! I tried the Fido path too... best I could come up with was Fi-don't. - purpleartichokes, 2007-04-27: 08:00:00
Excellent word Petaj - as usual - you get my vote - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-27: 09:03:00
Thanks Jabberwocky - this week has been much easier for me than Vonnegut week - that was a real struggle to come up with words. - petaj, 2007-04-27: 21:11:00
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Petifoul
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: pet/i/fowl
Sentence: Joe's dog, Fido, always sniffs excessively sticking his nose up every part of your body, licks every piece of bare skin, especially your lips, nose and eyes and slobbers saliva all over everywhere every time he meets you. Fido is a petifoul. Anybody who has been petifouled by a dog knows Fido's routine all too well. Most people hate petifoulers.
Etymology: PETIFOUL - noun - from PET (any domesticated, or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately) + FOUL (grossly offensive to the senses; disgustingly loathsome)
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COMMENTS:
PETIFOUL is very intuitive.
But here we go picking on poor FIDO again. FIDO's infamous behavior is well known and publicised, but he's paid his doggie debt to society. Let him get on with his limited life without the social stigma... - metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:48:00
Yep, Fdo sure has had a dog of a day! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 07:11:00
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Petrouble
Created by: allawson
Pronunciation: Pet Trouble
Sentence: Rover jumped up on Judy as she came out the door and john was petroubled.
Etymology: The mush I call a brain
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by purpleartichokes.
Thank you purpleartichokes! ~ James
Yes the rumors are true. This week we are offering the The Verbotomy Cup as prize for the top player of the week. See details on the Verbotomy Blog ~ James
Jabberwocky - 2007-04-27: 12:54:00
Hi Verbotomy, Those cups (mugs)are really great. Would it be possible for any of us to purchase ones even if we don't win?
Hi Jabberwocky, Glad you like the Verbotomy Cup! It is our wampeter, and as such I don't think we would sell it, because that might turn it into a MacGuffin. ~ James
Is it our waxing or waning wampeter? What's the other one (since a karass always has exactly two wampeters)?
I believe it is still waxing. And think that Dan Pink's right brain is the other wampeter. ~ James
mana1066 - 2007-05-06: 23:04:00
some of that went right over my head. whine! i want a cup too!
Quit a tail from the punster extrordinaire! Poor FIDO is the Lee Harvey Oswald of doggie misbehavior.
Today's definition was suggested by purpleartichokes. Thank you purpleartichokes. ~ James