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.
Embareassment
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: embarasmənt
Sentence: When the family went to the beach, they always took their golden retriever Sam. He was good at keeping an eye on the kids. When he attempted to stop Sarah from going in the water by grabbing her swim suit they all laughed that it looked like the old Coppertone ads. Now that Sarah is 16, they aren\'t laughing so much. Now it’s just an enbareassment.
Etymology: embarassment (a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness) + bare ass
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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Slobberdon
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: slob ber don
Sentence: he looked adorable but was a bit of a slobberdon when it came to etiquette
Etymology: slobber slobodon milosovic
Immoranimalistic
Created by: jonobo
Pronunciation: "immora" like in immoral, "animal" like in animal, "istic" like in minimalistic.
Sentence: You've got such an immoranimalistic dog.
Etymology: immoral + animal + adjectifiction = immoranimalistic.
Profaunation
Created by: airlie
Pronunciation: pro-FAW-nay-shun
Sentence: Eleanor lunged backwards as Fido's attentions elevated from a friendly tail wag to intense profaunation. As though talking to Jed wasn't difficult enough, with his intense staring and too-friendly shoulder rubs and sneaky thigh touches, now his dog was invading her space. Feeling violated, Eleanor exclaimed to Jed, "Help! Your dog is trying to kiss me!" Jed snickered, and grabbed Fido's leash. "Down Fido! Down!" he exclaimed. "Sorry," he said, halfheartedly. "He's just very friendly." Eleanor wondered what else Fido and Jed had in common...
Etymology: PROFANATION: the act of profaning; desecration; defilement; debasement (PROFANE: to misuse something that should be held in reverence or respect) + FAUNA: the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole
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COMMENTS:
great word - hey metro - you missed one - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-04: 10:26:00
Terrific. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 07:12:00
PROFAWNATION's nice- but it could be misinterpreted as a nation populated by professional adolescent whitetail deer.....?
Which are SURE to be chased by......FIDO! - metrohumanx, 2008-07-05: 10:19:00
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Labradiculous
Created by: vetmommy2
Pronunciation: "Lab-ra-DICK-u-luss"
Sentence: Hershey's chocolate Labradiculous behaviour was both a source of delight and frustration for his master, who vicariously enjoyed watching his dog interject his snout, while pretending to scold him.
Etymology: labrador retriever+ ridiculous
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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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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Pettyquette
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: petty/ket
Sentence: It was a pet peeve of Sue's that every time she encountered Mark and his dog the pettyquette involved substantial sniffing and licking
Etymology: pet + etiquette + petty (contemptible)
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COMMENTS:
PETTYQUETTE is very good.
Let me guess- mark's dog was named.....FIDO! - metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:56:00
Great word - TJayzz, 2008-07-04: 12:20:00
Excellent! - Mustang, 2008-07-04: 17:13:00
Very nice. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 06:57:00
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Humplegitis
Created by: ratbastid
Pronunciation: Hum-pla-GIE-tis
Sentence: Much to the chagrin of everyone around him, Lester's dog has a serious case of humplegitis.
Etymology: Should be pretty clear, tragically enough.
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