Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To push yourself so hard to reach an impossibly high standard of perfection, that you undercut your own success. n. An impossibly high goal which practically guarantees failure.
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.
Autosabotage
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: auto - sa - bo - taj
Sentence: Bill tended to autosabotage himself by pushing himself so hard he would ultimately collapse well short of his goal.
Etymology: auto (self) + sabotage
Obsessernaught
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: ob-SES-her-not
Sentence: Stan was always hyped up about achieving goals to the point of being totally obsessed with success, but his standards were so high that he only succeeded in becoming an obsessernaught.
Etymology: Blend of 'obsessed' (To preoccupy the mind of excessively) and 'naught' (nothing, nil)
Defamectionist
Created by: loosepiece
Pronunciation: de - fam - EC - tion - ist
Sentence: John's defamectionist streak was so strong that he would routinely call project meetings to discuss the minor imperfections of his work last week, whilst making sure the whole team were aware of how truly perfect his work this week was going to be.
Etymology: Perfectionist - demanding perfection in all things. Defame - attack someones reputation or character.
Perflunktion
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: pərfləngkshən
Sentence: In a Utopian world Jerry would always meet his lofty goals. In this world he usually achieves perflunktion. Karma seems bent on snatching the linchpin from whatever project he was about to declare a success.
Etymology: perfection (being free from all flaws or defects) + flunk (fail to reach the required standard)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Love this word. It really fits the definition and sounds funny too. - hyperborean, 2013-09-28: 11:08:00
----------------------------
Underflog
Created by: Javeson1
Pronunciation: uhn-der-flog
Sentence: Sometimes actors, musicians, politicians, or other celebrities (also including honor students) tend to underflog their own success by expecting too much of themselves.
Etymology: underdog + flog (as in, underdogging one's self, which leads to the flogging of one's career)
Parfection
Created by: urbanwookie
Pronunciation: par-fek-shun
Sentence: Despite his best efforts, Jeremy again found himself only achieving parfection...
Etymology: par (average) + perfection
Overdrive
Created by: egonschiela
Pronunciation: over+drive
Sentence: Nigel? It's Mother here ... I'm worried about you ... now listen to me, Nigel - if you don't get a good meal inside you, and a proper eight hours in that bed of yours, you'll overdrive yourself. Are you listening to me? Nigel? Nigel?
Etymology: As in 'overdo' + 'strive'
Icarussing
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: icarus - ing
Sentence: The opera singer strove for a perfect tone, but icarussing resulted in vocal cord nodes and a husky voice.
Etymology: Icarus (the boy, exulting in his career, began to soar upward as if to reach heaven, where the sun melted the wax holding his wings together and he plunged into the sea) + ing
