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.
Slobberfactor
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: slaw-ber-fact-tor
Sentence: Bills dog had that slobberfactor where he thinks everyone is his friend and seeks to share his saliva.
Etymology: saliva + factoring
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Excellent word. - ErWenn, 2007-04-29: 20:07:00
----------------------------
Crotchety
Created by: lumina
Pronunciation: crotch/itty
Sentence: Rumor has it that Doug and Fido had been banned from the dog park due to many complaints. It seems Fido was becoming more and more crotchety. So much so that even men started to call in complaints.
Etymology: I think it's obvious. :)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
If you think FIDO was despicable, you should meet ROVER!
CROTCHETY is very apt, but why is it always about sex? - metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 07:58:00
great twist to the word - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-04: 10:39:00
Who we gonna call? Crotchbusters. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-07-05: 07:01:00
----------------------------
Snuffleupaguest
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: snuf-full-up-a-gest
Sentence: My future mother-in-law had just walked in the door when much to my chagrin-tintin, my dog, Ernie, decided it was an appropriate moment to stick his nose in her crotch and snuffleupaguest.
Etymology: snuffle up a guest, snuffleupagus (A Sesame Street character with a very long nose.)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
That's...that's a fantastic word. - ErWenn, 2007-04-27: 09:19:00
When Ernie is behaving himself does he snuggleupaguest? - petaj, 2007-04-27: 21:26:00
Love chagrin-tintin too! - wordmeister, 2007-04-29: 05:57:00
----------------------------
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)
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Fidauxpas
Created by: thewbert
Pronunciation: f'Idoʊˈpɑː(z)
Sentence: When my dog interrupted our conversation by trying to hump her leg, we both fell into awkward silence at the fidauxpas.
Etymology: From fido and faux pas
Impupriety
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˌɪmpʌˈpɹaɪəti/
Sentence: Impupriety is in the eye of the beholder; I knew a girl who was disturbed by the mere sight of an animal licking itself.
Etymology: From impropriety + pup
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Rejected verbotomies: faux paw, animalgarity, wooffrontery, pet peeve, and petrageousness - ErWenn, 2007-04-27: 09:18:00
They join my rejections: mispuphaviour, jackassery, and sheepdogish and the extremely long and ridiculous shamefacedlovebirding. - petaj, 2007-04-27: 21:00:00
----------------------------
Discomfidoism
Created by: bountress
Pronunciation: dis-com-FI-do- ism
Sentence: Her dog's disomfidoism was out of line. My face was covered in slobber!
Etymology:
Creaturediscomfort
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Cree-chur-diss-cumf-ort
Sentence: When Linda invited Jane round for coffee at her flat she accepted reluctantly. Remembering last time she went round there, when her dog, Poochiepie, decided to lick parts of himself she never thought he could reach, then promptly jumped up on her lap in an effort to lick her face. Luckily she swerved just in time to avoid the horrorifying situation. She never wanted to feel that sense of creaturediscomfort again. At least this time she will be ready for anything!
Etymology: Creature (a living being, in particular an animal as distinct from a person.) from Latin Creare 'produce' + Discomfort ( Slight anxiety or embarrassment.) = Creaturediscomfort
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Great etymology. Good word.
FIDO says he never met POOCHIEPIE and was incarcerated at the time of the incident. - metrohumanx, 2008-07-04: 08:11:00
I guess that explains why our cat has such bad breath - Jabberwocky, 2008-07-04: 10:41:00
Great word...my brother-in-law reckons dogs their privates after they lick humans to get the taste out of their mouths! - Nosila, 2008-07-05: 00:18:00
oops "dogs lick their privates" - Nosila, 2008-07-05: 00:19:00
----------------------------
Petifoul
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: pet/i/fowl
Sentence: Fred's dog, Fido, always sniffs, licks and slobbers when he meets people. Fido is a petifoul. Anybody who has been petifouled, hates petifoulers.
Etymology: pet + foul
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Poor Fido's really copping a hammering today. Does anyone actually know someone with a dog called Fido? - petaj, 2007-04-27: 21:31:00
I know someone with a phone called fido... - wordmeister, 2007-04-29: 06:03:00
----------------------------
Petophile
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: petəfīl
Sentence: There is a rule at the dog park that no children under 12 should enter the off-leash area. To do so often results in the children being knocked over and petophiled by most of the male and many of the female dogs present. Looks like that **Birds & Bees** talk may need to be moved up on the calendar.
Etymology: pet (a domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure and treated with care and affection) + pedophile (a person who is sexually attracted to children)
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