Verboticism: Zoneduff

'I think he's pretending that no one is home.'

DEFINITION: v., To avoid unwanted interruptions (visits, calls, or emails) by pretending to be unavailable, unreachable or unconscious. n., A person who pretends they are not home in order to avoid talking to someone.

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Zoneduff

metrohumanx

Created by: metrohumanx

Pronunciation: ZZZZone-duh-FFF (alt. zoneduffer)

Sentence: BigBob was likeable enough, but he had an annoying habit of ZONEDUFFING while you were talking to him, and you never knew how long he had been incommunicado. We did extract a measure of revenge when the whole department took a subway ride to the trade show. We all got on the train, and just before the doors closed, everyone jumped off - leaving BigBob on the express to Harlem instead of going downtown. BigBob the ZONEDUFFER stared from the rear window of the subway car as it slowly vanished into the rat-infested subterranean dimness of the "Big Apple"...and forever into our memories.

Etymology: ZONED out+ DUFF = ZONEDUFF.....zoned out: late 1960-ish phrase meaning " to withdraw into a semi-pleasant introspective state of sensory withdrawl, induced by lack of sleep or excessive ingestion of contraband".....DUFF: disparaging regional term meaning "to leave (one's comrades) abruptly, secretively or without prior warning"....."Dude! Why did you DUFF on us last night?"

Points: 860

Comments: Zoneduff

metrohumanx - 2008-09-17: 02:06:00
No BigBobs were harmed in the writing of this FICTITOUS sentence....

Nosila - 2008-09-18: 01:30:00
Sounds like he was zonedeaf, too!

OZZIEBOB - 2008-09-30: 17:49:00
Amidst the woes on Wall st - missed this one. Great word