Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., The fear that your service representative will retaliate after you have complained. v., To be afraid of bad service because you complained about it.
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.
Panicacea
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: pan/i/ca/see/ya
Sentence: I was filled with panicacea when the dentist offered the alternative anesthetic when I adamantly refused the first foot long needle.
Etymology: panic + panacea (universal remedy)
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COMMENTS:
Yikes! Clever combo! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:45:00
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Assholesertiveness
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: ass hoel sert iv nehs
Sentence: It was incredible how much her life had changed since she had done the assholesertiveness course. Even her tastebuds were different
Etymology: assertiveness, asshole
Waitaliaphobia
Created by: flyingheadlice
Pronunciation: way-tal-i-ah-FO-bee-ah
Sentence: Leonard has determined that Sheldon does not have waitaliaphobia, as he continuously offends Penny with no fear of repercussions.
Etymology: waiter retaliation phobia
Phalloutbia
Created by: thegoatisbad
Pronunciation: Fal-out-be-ah
Sentence: Zinnia's diet had a few restrictions: "I can't eat oil, flour, meat or milk" she explained. Her tenancy to send back food that wasn't clearly a raw fruit or vegetable horrified Kimberly. "I would never send something back to the Kitchen. Do you know what goes on back there? Hatred, spit and vengeance." But Kimberly's warning meant nothing to Zinnia, "No phalloutbia is as strong as my desire to feel thin."
Etymology: fallout (effect, repercussion) + phobia (fear of)
Truebull
Created by: silveryaspen
Pronunciation: true bull
Sentence: When Ruth's steak was so rare it mooed, she sent it back to the chef. She knew she was in truebull, when it came back looking like the leather sole on a cowboy boot that had been through the cow barn.
Etymology: TO RUE, TROUBLE, BULL. To rue troubling over what is not right, because it resulted in being on the receiving end of even worse bull. Truebull is double trouble.
Telemanufrigulation
Created by: SIIVION
Pronunciation: TelemanuFRIGGulation
Sentence: Being a paranoid schizophrenic Julie was in fear of the Telemanufrigulation after her dissatisfying unhelpful conversation with an Indian telecoms customer service representative.
Etymology: 2001 Greek tele - distant, manufrig - to mucked about or taken liberty of
Forebodianskip
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: fore/bode/ian/skip
Sentence: I experienced a powerful forebodianskip when I asked the hairdresser to cut my hair a little shorter and he took out the buzz cutters.
Etymology: forebode + skip (as in skip a heartbeat) + freudian slip
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COMMENTS:
Excellent! - Mustang, 2007-12-01: 17:33:00
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Venjitters
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˌvɛnˈdʒɪdɚz/
Sentence: After publishing a severe critique of the way government officials had arrested a reporter with dissenting views, the journalist got a severe case of the venjitters.
Etymology: from Anglo-French "venger", meaning "to avenge" (as in English "avenge", "revenge", and "vengeance") + "jitters" (unknown origin)
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COMMENTS:
I like the sound of it. - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-30: 12:20:00
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Retailiate
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: rēˌtālēˌāt
Sentence: Richard already felt like the bottom rung on the ladder, working as a clerk in a discount shoe store. When a customer snapped her fingers and demanding immediate attention and referring to him as "Hey you", he knew he had to retailiate. First he made sure that each shoe he brought out was a half size smaller or narrower than what she needed. The ones she really loved were always out of stock. When she finally found a pair that she could shove her hoof into, he took her purchase to the register and mis-entered her information so that the transaction was rejected and he could announce in a not-too-quiet voice, "Mam, your card has been declined, do you have another?" The look on her face made all the aggravation worth it.
Etymology: retail: the sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption rather than for resale + retaliate: make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack
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COMMENTS:
I know this clerk. What a jerk! - wayoffcenter, 2008-10-28: 07:00:00
you've obviously suffered through a retail job at some time - great word - Jabberwocky, 2008-10-28: 13:02:00
Diabolical! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:39:00
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Grievengeance
Created by: xirtam
Pronunciation: gree-věn'jəns
Sentence: Annabelle feared that the waiter may enact some form of grievengeance against her after she complained that her steak was overcooked.
Etymology: Grievance: a complaint or resentment. + Vengeance: Infliction of punishment in return for a wrong committed; retribution.
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COMMENTS:
Good word. - Mustang, 2007-12-01: 17:34:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram~ James
remistram - 2007-11-30: 10:14:00
I admit - one of my paranoias....
purpleartichokes - 2007-11-30: 13:49:00
Thanks for all the great definitions Remi!
By the way, Remistram also gets a credit for yesterday's definition. She originally submitted her definition about compulsive sniffing in June, so I have added her name to the credits which she shares with kabloozie. Thanks! ~ James
silveryaspen - 2008-12-09: 01:06:00
Am I the only one confounded by the previous verbotomies being show as new ones, along with the re-run of the definition? When we go to vote for the new verbotomies, it's going to be confusing to vote for the new verbotomies instead of the old verbotomies.
logarithm - 2008-12-09: 04:24:00
A re-run, huh? I think it's ok to mix the old and new verbotomies together, and let people vote for their favourites. New verbotomies are great, but some of the old ones might still be the better ones. p/s Silveryaspen: I am back! ;-)
wayoffcenter - 2008-12-09: 05:31:00
But old games have already been decided and have major point advantages over any new entries. It stops regular contributors from playing. They already have a word entered for this contest.
logarithm - 2008-12-09: 07:02:00
It's a contest?
Hey Silvery et al, Oops! Double replay. I have now updated today's definition. See it here: Isn't it a bit early to be wearing Christmas decorations? Be creative, James
Yes, logarithm, it's a game. We have daily and weekly winners. The winning word of the day gets printed in the "b", Baltimore's free daily newspaper. See: b the paper. ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram. ~ James