Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. The weird feelings that rise up when you notice that you are being followed by a police officer, or a cop car, or the Special Forces Anti-Terrorist Unit. v. To feel nervous, self-conscious and guilty whenever you see a police officer.
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.
Gendarmealarm
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: jahn/darm/alarm
Sentence: I experience such acute gendarmealarm that I even break into a sweat when I see a hall monitor from a French immersion school.
Etymology: gendarme + alarm
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COMMENTS:
Had you been motoring about in London perhaps you'd have experienced 'bobby caution'? - Mustang, 2008-03-20: 07:13:00
Or Plodduck. - petaj, 2008-03-20: 09:29:00
Fun to say! Nice one. - Jamagra, 2008-03-20: 11:53:00
Double Stong'arm'ed Creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:26:00
tres bien - stache, 2008-03-21: 00:00:00
Gendarmit - i should have thought of that one! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-03-22: 00:30:00
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Hangxiety
Created by: doseydotes
Pronunciation: ˈhaŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē
Sentence: Mildred tried to fight it, she really did, but she found herself sweaty with hangxiety every time she passed Ralph, Woolworth's security guard. It had been 55 years since she'd filched that tube of lipstick - she'd been too scared to ever use it, and she ended up throwing it in a drainage ditch - but she was certain that all Ralph had to do was look at her closely enough and he'd KNOW.
Etymology: From the British root, hang, meaning to stand about waiting for the trouble to start so one can get in on it early; and the Finnish (the Fins are such good finishers), xiety, meaning a group that collectively ducks its head in a guilty manner.
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COMMENTS:
Interesting etymology! When I think of hanging ... I think gallows! Your word is frighteningly good! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:45:00
One way to generate true hangziety would be to ask a cop "How's it haning?" - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:47:00
Such a clever pun ... and incorporating hang with all it's meanings was absolutely brilliant! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:48:00
Comprehensive and learned etymology. Saturday night's alright for fighting.... - stache, 2008-03-20: 16:53:00
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Petrifuzzed
Created by: silveryaspen
Pronunciation: pe tri fuzz d
Sentence: The patrol car at a cafe, or stopping someone on a highway, chills us and fills us, with anxieties. We avoid them, like they were a dread disease. Even doing nothing wrong, it doesn't take very long, if around us, the cops buzzed, we go stone cold ... I call it petrifuzzed!
Etymology: PETRIFIED, FUZZ. PETRIFIED - so uneasy you turn stone cold. FUZZ - slang term for any type of police.
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COMMENTS:
great word - Jabberwocky, 2009-01-12: 12:06:00
Very sobering thought. - metrohumanx, 2009-01-12: 17:53:00
good word - mweinmann, 2009-01-13: 08:30:00
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Copophobia
Created by: Biscotti
Pronunciation: kop-oh-fo-bee-uh
Sentence: Alex was suffering severe copophobia when he was followed across state lines by a SWAT van. He thought they were following him because he tossed out a beer bottle earlier. Eventually he was pulled over and ony cited for littering.
Etymology: cop (slang for a police officer) + phobia (fear of something)
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COMMENTS:
A SWAT van needed to chase a litter? Why only cited for drinking? Your sentence left me hanging! Please finish me off? Maybe I'm just copophobic ... scared too senseless ... to figure it out! Very meaning full word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:56:00
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Constabullied
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: kon sta bull eed
Sentence: When Constance saw more than one police officer near her work, home, garage or gym, she felt constabullied, even though she was not breaking the law (on purpose.
Etymology: Constable (police officer) & Bullied (forced, coerced into doing something against one's will)
Gulpable
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: gəlpəbəl
Sentence: Its not that he was all that bad a driver but every time he saw a police car in his rear view mirror he would have a gulpable moment. He would also fall into a state of dread when he came into contact with a doctor.
Etymology: gulp (make effortful breathing or swallowing movements, typically in response to strong emotion) + culpable (deserving blame)
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COMMENTS:
Captures the reaction and feeling so very well! - silveryaspen, 2009-01-12: 10:40:00
Gulpability is a serious crime...good word! - Nosila, 2009-01-12: 19:12:00
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Copcaughted
Created by: looseball
Pronunciation: cop-caught-ed
Sentence: there it was again that copcaughted feeling every time I see a badge.
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
You are awarded another point for each etymology ... sish you had put an etymology! Might copcaughted have sprung from Copcaugtchya and its cousin gotchya? - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:34:00
freudian fingerslips again ... sish should be wish in the above! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:35:00
Good word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 16:35:00
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Copranoia
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: cop - ruh - noyuh
Sentence: Whenever Hildegarde is driving and spots a patrol car or motorcycle she is convinced the officer has her under surveillance and she experiences severe bouts of copranoia.
Etymology: Blend of cop and paranoia
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COMMENTS:
sounds like a real word - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:06:00
Fear of coppers ... especially if you don't have any cents! If she faints from the fear would you say she was copped out? What a fun creation! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:57:00
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Copscientious
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: kop shee en shuss
Sentence: When Zelda looked in her rear view mirror, that old feeling of being copscientious swept over her when she saw the patrol car behind her with two of the city's finest inside. A drop of sweat started on her brow and the perspiration started flowing. No wonder they called cops The Heat, she thought. She continued driving down the street, hoping they would get called away soon. She was meticulous in her driving procedures, for all her anxiety. Would they pull me over for some minor infraction? Had she forgotten some teensy traffic law? Her hands grew clammy and she prayed that she could get through the next light and leave them behind. Of course, no such luck today. She continued driving and trying to suppress that panicky feeling, hoping that her nervousness would not translate into a foolish mistake. She tried to remember where she had her pink slip and registration papers...her purse or her glove compartment? Letting her eyes stray back to the rear view mirror, she was horrified to see that they had moved up closer behind her. Now, she thought, I'll make a right turn (legally, of course) and try to lose them. To her horror, they signalled to turn right as well. Now she was beyond being copscientious, she was spiralling into panic mode. In the next moment, she felt relief sweep over her, as the patrol car turned into a driveway. She drove on away as the police pulled up to the donut shop. Thank goodness they had never stopped her. It would have been hard to explain away her husband's lifeless body in the trunk!!
Etymology: cops (bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you??) & Conscientious (characterized by extreme care and great effort )
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COMMENTS:
terrific story - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-20: 11:10:00
Agreed, great story — gave me chills. - Tigger, 2008-03-20: 11:46:00
Terrorific sentence and word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-20: 15:22:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by Nosila. Thank you Nosila. ~ James
mokelmoney - 2009-01-12: 12:32:00
copetrinoia
mokelmoney - 2009-01-12: 12:38:00
copetrinoia: cop/ e/ tri/ noia- to be petrified of the cops to the point of paranoia. Also, not change the subject [no pun intended] ,however I have made numerous contributions. Why are they being disregarded? Please check again...thats Bea Helfy or mokelmoney. Thank you
Today's definition was suggested by Nosila. Thank you Nosila. ~ James
DiplomatUfimskmef - 2018-05-27: 19:30:00
Уважаемые пользователи, друзья! Хотелось бы поделиться несложной и оч
GeorgeSib - 2018-05-27: 19:51:00
Вашему вниманию: организация свадеб в киеве и многое другое от Компании АртМуз: организаци