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.
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.
Revengeservice
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Be careful what you wish outloud for...
Etymology:
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
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Good answer...worth a good tip! - Nosila, 2010-03-25: 12:24:00
----------------------------
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
Spitzophrenia
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: \spit-suh-free-nee-uh\
Sentence: Julia developed a severe case of spitzophrenia, after sending her Chicken Marsala back because she thought it had been overcooked, once she heard the cook shouting and cursing in the kitchen -- all the way from her seat at the far end of the restaurant -- and she was certain she'd be gripenalized for it. She was sure it would be 'spit-for-tat' and was soon overwhelmed by protestanoia.
Etymology: spit - to eject saliva from the mouth (Old English, spātl - "spittle") + schizophrenia - a mental disorder characterized by delusions (from Greek, comb. of 'schízein' & 'phrén' - "split mind")
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.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Good word. - Mustang, 2007-12-01: 17:34:00
----------------------------
Gaffatwaphobia
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: gaff at waff o bee a
Sentence: Her gaffatwaphobia was so intense that she called all of the teddy bears she gave as gifts to her nephews and nieces after herself, for fear of reprecussions.
Etymology: Gaff fatwa 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)
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)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Yikes! Clever combo! - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:45:00
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Clever. Great sentence with nice nuances. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:53:00
----------------------------
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