Verboticisms

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: norm croz bee ing

Sentence: Norma Crosby was the quintessential Normcrosbeing in our office. She thought by using big words (that she had seen in print, but apparently failed to check the definitions of), people would think she was far more educated than the Grade 10 level she had actually achieved, barely. When she had transferred into our HR Office, she felt it obliged her to speak far above the intellect of our internal clients, even if it meant inventing her own words. The clients were often left shaken and confused when she spoke in large words that had nothing to do with the topic at hand. As a result, people avoided her like the plague and chose not to believe any facts that she presented. Her personal crusade was that unless words were at least eight or ten letters long, why bother to use them?? It would be redumbdant and wasterly and youtilize no hexpediant deliverables.

Etymology: Norm Crosby - (Comedian, considered the Master of the Malaprop, who uses the wrong words, usually big ones to make confusing, funny comments.(i.e he speaks from his diagram and drinks decapitated coffee) & Being (a creature, a living person)

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COMMENTS:

I swear we must have worked in the same place in a prior lifetime. - metrohumanx, 2008-12-31: 00:55:00

You are probably right...in "The Office"! And now you know why it is a hit! - Nosila, 2008-12-31: 23:11:00

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Created by: Jamagra

Pronunciation: in/flach/u/late

Sentence: Joe dithered outside the bathroom door. The access instructions distributed at the 3 hour "securitized lavatory entrance system" meeting had seemed very clear at the time: choose #1 or choose #2. But, Joe now wondered, what about an employee requiring #1 AND #2? Had there been a third option? Why, oh why, had he not paid more attention to the inflatulated memo??? Joe shuffled off to find an HR rep who could help him with this rather pressing problem.

Etymology: inflate + flatulate

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COMMENTS:

spot on, Jam. - stache, 2008-03-06: 08:53:00

Nice blend. Could be used to describe what's done in the bathroom too! - Tigger, 2008-03-06: 10:11:00

Certainly has a special fl-air !!! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-06: 11:06:00

Great word! Makes lots of 'scents'. - Mustang, 2008-03-06: 17:35:00

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Created by: stache

Pronunciation: (är'gĭ-trāt')

Sentence: "It's a clear case of res ipsa loquiter," Perry argotrated to the stunned group of assembled clients. "Ipso facto, we'll cut them off at their prima facie case."

Etymology: argot, A specialized vocabulary or set of idioms used by a particular group (from Fr. argot, "the jargon of Paris rogues and thieves," earlier "the company of beggars," from M.Fr., "group of beggars," , + -ate, used in english as a verb suffix.

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COMMENTS:

Your sentence and etymology shows you are great at argotrate! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-06: 11:07:00

sounds lilke a real word - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-06: 13:15:00

if only I could spell like - Jabberwocky, 2008-03-06: 13:16:00

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Created by: artr

Pronunciation: jabərtôkē

Sentence: Lewis loved to talk with Carrol. She, for the most part, was unimpressed with his jabbertalky.

Etymology: jabber (talk rapidly and excitedly but with little sense) + talk (speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings) play on jabberwocky from the title of a nonsense poem in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass (1871)

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COMMENTS:

I LOVE JABBERWOKY! This is so funny, ARTR. - XMbIPb, 2010-05-17: 20:08:00

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!" - XMbIPb, 2010-05-17: 20:08:00

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Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: mal a prop por ter

Sentence: When Christine was in charge of giving instructions, she was a malaproporter. Her big, convaluting words and writing, often left the office staff with confusing instructions. When she ran for the office of Safety and Evacuation Officer, she was voted out, due to her unclear and head-spinning guidance!

Etymology: Malapropism (A malapropism is the production of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous utterance & Purporter (the intended meaning of a communication have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming)

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Created by: Eanrael

Pronunciation: Boss i fie

Sentence: HR knew that the new commission plan would cut the worker's income by at least 1/3 if not 1/2; they would have to *bossify* the presentation. Note: With the connotation that a "boss" would be happy with either result a) people ignore the plan because the wording is too complicated or b)they believe the plan to be benificial.

Etymology: Boss - n. - slang - Good, Excellent, Cool Boss - n. - a person who is in charge of an employee or organization — ORIGIN Dutch baas ‘master’.

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Created by: amigamark

Pronunciation: pol-it-speek

Sentence: The governments insistance on using politspeak, lead to it's eventual downfall. The masses couldn't understand it, and you know what happens when 'people' don't understand something......."whack".

Etymology: polit - reference to politicians, hot air, blarney, liars and general waffle. speak - how do you know if a polititian is lying, it's mouth moves.

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COMMENTS:

Strong sentence and etymology! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-06: 11:30:00

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Created by: Redrover

Pronunciation: ver-bos-tin-tate

Sentence: Marcia was afraid that her subordinates might realize that she had no idea what she was talking about so she overwhelmed everyone with her verbostintation. It worked, they all thought her unusually brilliant although she really hadn't a clue.

Etymology: verbosity = using an excessive number of words; ostentatious = characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others

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COMMENTS:

Nice originality! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-06: 21:35:00

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Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: retch/tor/ik

Sentence: The grad student was so full of rhechtoric that my gag reflex kicked in every time I saw him.

Etymology: rhetoric + retch

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COMMENTS:

Happy New Year, JW...May the farce be always with you! - Nosila, 2009-01-01: 02:45:00

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| Comments and Points

Created by: Tigger

Pronunciation: /jahr-gon-TIF-i-keyt/

Sentence: All of Ken's employees and co-workers wondered how he had gotten his job, as an Information Technology Manager, since he was practically computer-illiterate and he could barely turn a computer on without help. He was a charismatic talker though, so even though he went around using inappropriate techno-terms and unrelated buzzwords, and he would jargontificate endlessly, he only sounded convincing to other computer-illiterate people. Then he mentioned his background as a Car Salesman, and it all started to make sense.

Etymology: Jargon - language characterized pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax, often vague in meaning (from Old French, gargon "a chattering" [of birds]) + Pontificate - to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner (from Latin, pontifex "bridge-maker")

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COMMENTS:

Great last line in your sentence! Well selected etymology. Good word! - silveryaspen, 2008-03-06: 10:55:00

So many good submissions today picking was tough. But this one's a peach, so I picked it. - stache, 2008-03-06: 15:13:00

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