The create-a-word game
DEFINITION: n. A clever remark, especially a "comeback line" to an insult, which does not come to mind until it is too late to be delivered; often leads to the gnashing of teeth. v. To think of something clever after it's too late.
Retorture
Top verboticism of the day created by Nosila
Pronunciation: ree tort chur
Sentence: Drew always became tongue-tied after the tart-tongued Ramona passed him by at school and made one of her blistering comments to him. It was only after she departed that he would think of something clever in return. This retorture replayed like a video in his head all night. He was so busy trying to be the witty racontuer that he failed to realize that she only did this to get his attention because she liked him.
Etymology: Retort (a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)& Torture (torment emotionally or mentally;the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean)
Created by: Nosila.
More Top Verboticisms:
(Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)
Disslate: /diss-lay-te/ "UGH! I disslated again Sophie!" "That is the best disslate I ever thought of!" Etymology: Diss ("comeback line" to insult back someone) & Late Created by: arlouxo.
Rejoinduh: /re-join-der/ Bill's witty riposte to his annoying colleagues came too late. He'd fallen into the humiliating trap of failing to think of a witticism, only a rejoinduh. Etymology: rejoinder (a reply, a riposte) + uh! (an exclamation used to indicate doubt or hesitation) Created by: CharlieB.
Numback: /nəmbak/ She cut him to the quick with her biting remark. All he had was a numback. Like the line from the Three Stooges, ”I’m trying to think but nothing happens”, He’s trying to speak but nothing happens. Etymology: numb (deprive of feeling or responsiveness) + comeback (a quick reply to a critical remark) Created by: artr.
More...
To see more verboticisms for this definition go to: Nothing clever to say?
More Winning Words:
More Verboticisms! See the winning words for: I feel so icky!
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian.
Thank you mplsbohemian! ~ James
mplsbohemian - 2007-04-03: 11:13:00
Thanks for using the definition! I specifically chose it because the French expression for this is notoriously difficult to succinctly translate into English. Perhaps you guys can help! Peace Clint
Ah oui, "l'ésprit de l'escalier"... Merci pour la suggestion, mplsbohemian ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian. Thank you mplsbohemian. ~ James