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.
Martryer
Created by: Carla
Pronunciation: mah-trigh-er
Sentence: Simon's self-loathing drove him to pursue impossible goals. When, inevitably, he failed, he could at least wallow in the sanctimonious self-pity of a martryer.
Etymology: martyr + try
Masochristic
Created by: hyperborean
Pronunciation: ma-so-krih-stihk
Sentence: He tried so hard to be perfect it was masochristic. How would Jesus shave?
Etymology: masochist + christ
Peakawoe
Created by: mdschermer
Pronunciation: PEEK-a-woo
Sentence: She totally peekawoed when she spent 7 hours on the hors d'oeuvre alone, only to find all the guests had long gone by the time it was ready to be served.
Etymology: From "to peak": to bring to a maximum of development, value or intensity, and "woe": deep distress or misery. Made to sound like peek-a-boo for easy remembering.
Fizzlestickler
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: fiz-zle-stick-ler
Sentence: Mel, the bartender, became known as a fizzlestickler after he went to LasVegas to compete for the title of "World's Best Bartender." Always a stickler for perfection, Mel had practiced hard. Unfortunately, he fizzled out when he tried to toss a martini glass too high and beaned a judge.
Etymology: fizzle: to fail or end weakly after a promising start + stickler: someone who insists on something unyieldingly; a perfectionist (wordplay on swizzle stick - a small stick used to stir cocktails)
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COMMENTS:
Fizzilific! Bean there! - jrogan, 2009-08-19: 08:31:00
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Paragonarrhea
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: pair-a-gone-a-ree-ah
Sentence: Sue would always paragonarrhea over her clothes, constantly tugging, smoothing, and brushing off imaginary lint specks; ultimately, this made her look like a grooming chimpanzee.
Etymology: paragon, gonarrhea
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COMMENTS:
Hilarious! - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:10:00
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Overdude
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: ōvərdoōd
Sentence: Like many guys Walter feels the need to take things to extremes. The fact that he fails just about every time he attempts to overdude something doesn’t change his approach.
Etymology: overdo (carry to excess; exaggerate) + dude (a guy, man)
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'
Reachforthechop
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: ree/ch/for/th/chop
Sentence: In his quest to reach for the top he unfortunately joined the ranks who reachforthechop.
Etymology: reach for the top + chop
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COMMENTS:
You mean he lost his fingers? Good thing he was using his hand... - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:46:00
I was thinking of something a little more precious...jewels come to mind - Jabberwocky, 2007-01-16: 11:51:00
Yes, when you reachforthechop, it could be quite distastorious if you choose the wrong goal, or worse, choose the wrong tool... - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 12:02:00
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Overunchieving
Created by: allwise
Pronunciation: O-ver-un-chi-ving
Sentence: As she had PMS, he tried being quiet and out of the way. Unfortunately his overunchieving mind made him trip over noisy furniture, tickle her feet, and generally fail everything he set out to do.
Etymology: overachieve - do better than expected unchieve - do worse when trying
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)
