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
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
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)
Undergrasp
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /"un-d&r-'grasp/
Sentence: When the couple played Spades, he would always underbid and she would always overbid; between his overreaching and her undergrasping, they'd usually break even.
Etymology: From the common phrase "his reach exceeds his grasp"
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Good word ErWenn! This is a word you could us on an everyday basis -- at least if you know people like that... - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:55:00
Thanks, I was happy with that one. It's nice to come up with one that's not just a portmanteau. - ErWenn, 2007-01-17: 00:15:00
----------------------------
Nulltimate
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: null/tih/may/t
Sentence: By trying so hard to get it right he achieved the nulltimate goal - nothing!
Etymology: null + ultimate
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
You have created the nultimate word! - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:17:00
I think I should be insulted but thanks - Stevenson0, 2007-01-16: 10:47:00
Should be insulted? Perhaps you have the nulltimate ego problem, - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 11:00:00
This word is awesome. Simple and sweet - david, 2007-01-17: 10:40:00
thanks David - Stevenson0, 2007-01-17: 10:51:00
----------------------------
Deafucess
Created by: Windyo
Pronunciation: Di/fu/x/ess
Sentence: Poor guy, he just had to go and deafucess. You've gotta know where to stop
Etymology: Defeat + success
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
Mortain
Created by: EonaFrae
Pronunciation: more-tane
Sentence: I'd been struggling all year to mortain good grades, but for some reason my coveted A+ remained illusive.
Etymology: Mort [french: dead] + Attain [To accomplish, to achieve]
Robjective
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: rob jek tiv
Sentence: Rob decided to get that close, smooth shave he had always wanted to impress his girlfriend, Venus. Conventional razors just didn't cut it for him. He pulled out his trusty Xacta and went for the juggler to meet his robjective. As he desanguinated,calling 911, he realized that if he had just used a regular razor, his name could now be Nick, instead of DOA!
Etymology: Rob (To deprive unjustly of something belonging to, desired by, or legally due) & Objective (the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)
