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.
Gripesniperr
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: gripe-SNIPE-air.....(can be pronounced with a mock French accent)
Sentence: Petula stopped at the local Serbo-Croatian restaurant on the way home from her assertiveness training seminar. The tripe was not up to snuff, and when the waiter brought her a flaccid eclair, she sent it back to the chef after browbeating the waiter who delivered it. As the minutes crawled ominously by, Petula was seized by a sudden GRIPESNIPERR....perhaps she was being too hard on the "Beav"- he was only waiting tables to pay off that AK-47 he brought from his homeland. An exorbitant tip might compensate for her hasty harangue, but by then it could be too late....Milosh might be a real GRIPESNIPER....err....."Czech, Please."
Etymology: GRIPE+SNIPE+ERR=GRIPESNIPERR...........GRIPE:to complain with grumbling;Middle English, from Old English grīpan; akin to Old High German grīfan to grasp, Lithuanian griebti.....SNIPE:shoot at exposed individuals from a usually concealed point of vantage.....ERR:to make a mistake,to violate an accepted standard of conduct, especially in an eatery of suspiciously vague ethnic origin; Middle English, from Anglo-French errer, from Latin errare to wander, err; akin to Old English ierre wandering, perverse, Gothic airzeis deceived.
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COMMENTS:
Can't identify that snack? Lookee here:
http://www.hanttula.com/exhibits/mofa/ - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 01:47:00
Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that’s bad for you! ~Tommy Smothers
- metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 02:11:00
merde! she got away just in time - Jabberwocky, 2008-10-28: 12:59:00
Yes, Petula was just being Prague-matic! - Nosila, 2008-10-28: 13:59:00
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Ruexchange
Created by: zxvasdf
Pronunciation: Rue x change
Sentence: Matilda loved making ruexchanges because it placed her on the precipice of doubt and the thrill of the unknown shivered through her spine as the waiter placed the possibly reconstituted food at her table. Others are normally not so inclined to make a ruexchange out of a justifiable fear of acquiring some mysterious disease.
Etymology: Rue (to regret) & exchange (to trade in) Also a "rude" could be derived.
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COMMENTS:
makes me think of Scooby Doo - Jabberwocky, 2008-10-28: 13:03:00
Never get inclined near the precipice of doubt. ExtremeDining is too much for me.Brilliant word. Beautifully lyrical example. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:42:00
A lumpy RUE is a valid reason to return ANY sauce. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 18:00:00
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Counterattack
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)
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.
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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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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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:
Clever. Great sentence with nice nuances. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:53:00
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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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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)
Dissatisfear
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Diss-at-iss-fee-er
Sentence: When Colin complained to the waiter that their meal was cold, Sally was filled with dissatisfear and was convinced that the chef would exact revenge by sabotaging their food in some really unpleasant way!
Etymology: Dissatisfied(failed to be satisfied or pleased) + Fear(the likelihood of something unwelcome happening) = Dissatisfear
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COMMENTS:
While dining at Broadway Chicken in Paterson, I sent back the cold blackeyed peas. Thought I was going to be shivved on my way out the door. - metrohumanx, 2008-10-28: 17:51:00
Like it - mweinmann, 2008-10-28: 18:15:00
Very good. - Mustang, 2008-10-28: 18:50:00
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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