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.
Reciprocake
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: ri-sip-ruh-keyk
Sentence: After Joyce complained about her entrée she feared that the dessert she ordered might be a slice of reciprocake.
Etymology: reciprocate (to give and receive reciprocally; interchange) + cake (a sweet, baked, breadlike food, made with or without shortening, and usually containing flour, sugar, baking powder or soda, eggs, and liquid flavoring)
Whinerwager
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: why-ner-wey-jer
Sentence: Her whinerwager came true, her pasta dish that was too cold came back in a flash steaming hot with a dust bunny on top.
Etymology: whiner (complainer) + wager (risk)
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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Retaliphobia
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ree ta la fo bee ya
Sentence: When Fastedia dines out, she always finds fault with her meal selections. Her complaints are picky, minor beefs that really annoy the wait staff. (Where's my parsley garnish?) Afterall, they are busy enough without running back and forth for her. After several acts of revenge in past, she has developed retaliphobia of the servers. It makes her job as a restaurant columnist all the harder...
Etymology: Retaliate (take revenge for a perceived wrong)& Phobia (an anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situations)
Waitdress
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: wey/dress
Sentence: Whenever you complain and send back an item at a restaurant be prepared for the waitress to waitdress your food with a little spattle and snottle to make things just right for you.
Etymology: WAITDRESS - verb WAITRESS (a woman who waits on tables) + REDRESS (satisfaction for wrong; to set right; remedy, or repair)
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COMMENTS:
Great word! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:44:00
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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.
Fretribution
Created by: porsche
Pronunciation: Freh/tri/bu/shun
Sentence: Fretribution is rampant amongst vegetarians who request a vegan meal.
Etymology: fret + retribution
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COMMENTS:
Ooooo... nice! Quite versatile! - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-30: 13:45:00
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Maitredread
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: may-tra-dread
Sentence: While vacationing in Jamaica, Jen had maitredread after complaining about the entre to the headwaiter. She couldn't understand what he said, but when he returned the dish there was a garnish that looked suspiciously like something they warned her about in health class.
Etymology: maitre d: master of a restaurant who is in charge of the overall dining experience of the customers + dread: fearful or distasteful anticipation + dreads: natural hairstyle found in Jamaica and other islands where the hair is twisted into long ropelike braids symbolizing religious spirituality and ethnic identity
Servangst
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: sur vang ssssssssst
Sentence: Her servangst was so strong that she naver went to a restaurant without a sandwich in her purse
Etymology: servant, angst
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COMMENTS:
Good answer...worth a good tip! - Nosila, 2010-03-25: 12:24:00
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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