Verboticism: Fossillusion
DEFINITION: n., The shock and embarrassment felt after innocently implying that you are much younger, only to discover that everyone actually knows how old you really are. v., To be embarrassed when caught lying about your age.
Fossillusion
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /fos-si-loo-zhun/
Sentence: Although around the office, Maxine had been claiming she was only 32 for her past three birthdays, and either nobody had caught on, or they hadn't called her bluff. But her co-worker had enlisted her brother to bring the cake to the office this year, and with her true age written out for all to see, in a forest fire of candles, her fossillusion had ended right then and there.
Etymology: fossil - an old person; slang (from French, fossile "dug up") + illusion - an act of deception (from Latin, illusionem "a mocking pretense")
Points: 719
Comments: Fossillusion
bananabender - 2008-02-05: 03:00:00
lol! love the forest fire of candles! great combo!
silveryaspen - 2008-02-05: 07:15:00
Fascinating word that also conjures up those false illusions as we tell our wishfullie age. Fossillusion has a unique appeal.
OZZIEBOB - 2008-02-05: 16:08:00
She could add years to her life by just telling the truth! Nice and cleverly blended word!