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.
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"
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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
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Peakedout
Created by: kbones
Pronunciation:
Sentence: I was so excited that hr was coming over that I peakedout with the hair and make-up I think!
Etymology:
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.
Poorfect
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: poor - fekt
Sentence: No matter how hard Roger tried, his results were poorfect. He wanted to achieve and he tried to be perfect in everything he did but somehow, he always fell far short of his goals.
Etymology: poor (inadequate: not sufficient to meet a need), perfect
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COMMENTS:
He's just poofectly human... - Nosila, 2009-08-19: 12:11:00
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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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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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Metopia
Created by: toadstool57
Pronunciation: mee-toe-pee-a
Sentence: Bob would always metopia projects at work in order to get noticed; giving more than the boss wanted, only to end up being reprimanded for wasting time on minutia.
Etymology: me, utopia
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COMMENTS:
And it sounds like myopia too! Good one! - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:20:00
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Amputoimperfecto
Created by: alona
Pronunciation: amp-YOU-toe-imperfect-oh
Sentence: He went totally amputoimperfecto before the date and nearly shaved his mouth off.
Etymology: amputo - amputate, cut off. from latin. imperfecto - imperfect, latin.