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.
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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Remorsel
Created by: swallowedbyafish
Pronunciation:
Sentence: He was instantly filled with remorsel after realizing the waiter was about to go do unspeakable things to his food.
Etymology: remorse + morsel
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COMMENTS:
oops didn't mean to steal somebody else's idea...
sorry - swallowedbyafish, 2007-11-30: 22:53:00
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Criticoncpiraphobia
Created by: hendrixius
Pronunciation: /krit-uh-cun-speer-uh-foe-bee-uh/
Sentence: Ellen suffered a bout of criticoncpiraphobia when she told the surly waiter that her sirloin was overcooked.
Etymology: "criticism" + "conspiracy" + "phobia"
Revengeservice
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Be careful what you wish outloud for...
Etymology:
Gripejitters
Created by: MichaelCampbellUK
Pronunciation: gri-pe-ji-turs
Sentence: Amy was overcome by a wave of the gripejitters after sending back the 'chocolate' mousse.
Etymology: Gripe + jitters. See also 'gripeweasel' N.
Regretel
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: re gret el
Sentence: When he followed the breadcrumb trail to the house made of candy in the Enchanted Forest, Hansel complained to the old crone that lived there.He could not find his sister and accused her of holding her there against her will. When he realizes her intent, he is full of regretel and so soon is the old crone...
Etymology: Regret (remorse;be sorry) & Gretel (Sister in the Grimm fairy tale Hansel & Gretel)
Dissatisfriction
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: dis-sat-is-frik-shern
Sentence: as he sent the salad back because it was to 'leafy', he started to feel an awkward pang of dissatisfriction
Etymology: diss, dissatisfaction, friction
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COMMENTS:
I bet he'll get the seizure salad for returning it. - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-30: 10:14:00
or maybe a gob salad with blew cheese dressing - Jabberwocky, 2007-11-30: 15:04:00
And what was that floating in the turdle soup? - purpleartichokes, 2007-11-30: 18:07:00
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Remorselangst
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: re-MORSE-uhl-angst
Sentence: Seeing what she thought was vengeful aggravation in the eyes of the waiter when she complained about her dinner, Matilda experienced a huge wave of remorselangst and found herself wishing she'd just eaten the overdone steak rather than to complain about it.
Etymology: Blend of remorse, morsel, and angst
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COMMENTS:
Downright inspirational! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 02:28:00
like it! - Jabberwocky, 2008-10-28: 13:01:00
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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:
Sabophobic is real textbook material. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-19: 20:27:00
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Regretribution
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ree gret trib you shun
Sentence: Rhett was already feeling regretribution for complaining to his Bank Manager, Chet, about the way he had been treated by the bank employees while doing a little banking. He did not realize that such a complaint might reflect badly on Chet's perfect career record and maybe hinder or halt any career aspirations he had to be Bank President. You could Abetribution that there would be Rhettribution from Chetribution which would cause Sweatribution, Upsetribution and Threatribution and Rhett could Getribution a big Debtribution. Yes, next time Rhett tried to rob a bank, he'd pick one with nicer tellers!
Etymology: Regret (sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment;feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about) & Retribution(the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life)
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COMMENTS:
Good grief! That sentence makes my head swim!.....but i like it. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 02:25:00
That's called dizzytribution, but don't fretribution, if you were on a plane, it might be jetribution or on a boat it would be wetribution! - Nosila, 2008-10-28: 12:52:00
If the warden lets me use the computer, I'll make another contribution. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:55:00
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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