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'That cake is so dry it's completely indigestible!'

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.

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Verboticisms

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Retailiate

artr

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

metrohumanx Diabolical! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:39:00

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Phalloutbia

thegoatisbad

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)

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Phlegmafear

Created by: abrakadeborah

Pronunciation: phlim-uh-fear

Sentence: Bratillda is overcome with a regretful feeling of phlegmafear when she complains about her food in a restaurant.

Etymology: Phlegm-Thick,mucus secreted by the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. (Yuk!) A fear-To be uneasy or apprehensive.

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Breachofcontact

Created by: Nuwanda

Pronunciation: breech-of-con-tacked

Sentence: Melanie was worried that by sending back her cold soup, she had created a breachofcontact, thus opening herself up for all sorts of unsavory retailatory possibilities. Melanie was aware that the agreement between server and servee was tenuous at best, and did not instigate a breachofcontact lightly. Nonetheless, she was still surprised and more than a little disgusted to find a cigarette butt in her piping hot soup.

Etymology: breach of contract revised to breach of contact

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COMMENTS:

metrohumanx Clever. Great sentence with nice nuances. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:53:00

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Serverphobia

Created by: Daniel999

Pronunciation: Obvious

Sentence: I was so concerned about how the food would come back from the kitchen that I developed a case of serverphobia.

Etymology:

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Retrifarction

Created by: schoolmarm

Pronunciation: ret/ruh/FARK/shun

Sentence: Seconds after she mentioned her dirty spoon to the waiter, she suffered a massive retrifarction and had to be removed from the restaurant.

Etymology:

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Prevengitis

Created by: Bullwinkle

Pronunciation: prevenj'itis

Sentence: The food was bad but prevengeitis kept me quiet. An overwhelming desire to prevent revenge.

Etymology:

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Counterattack

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: counter attack

Sentence: No sooner had Nelly complained to the insurance officer across the service desk about the poor quality of the repairer's work on her storm-damaged roof, she felt that coil of fear in her stomach. Would this woman counterattack with quick thrust of her letter opener, or was she in for a year delay in getting the ruined carpet replaced.

Etymology: counter attack (retaliation) + counter (where one obtains service in a shop or service centre)

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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:

metrohumanx Yikes! Clever combo! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:45:00

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Sabophobic

Created by: logarithm

Pronunciation: sa.bo·fo.bik sab′ə fo bIk

Sentence:

Etymology: Sabotage - A deliberate act of destruction or disruption in which equipment is damaged. Phobic - suffering from irrational fears.

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COMMENTS:

metrohumanx Sabophobic is real textbook material. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-19: 20:27:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-11-30: 00:28:00
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!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-12-01: 07:45:00
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?

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-12-09: 07:05:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-12-09: 07:17:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-03-25: 00:11:00
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram. ~ James