Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., Cautionary advice provided by parents to their children, often makes no logical sense but carries enough emotional weight to affect the child's behavior. v. To warn of danger through the judicious use of exaggeration.
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.
Humumbug
Created by: vixphilia
Pronunciation: hum-MUM-bug
Sentence: Mum was feding me her usual humumbug: "If you keep making ugly faces,it will freeze like that!"
Etymology: Humbug: pretentious or silly talk Mum: Mother
Lieperbole
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: līpərbəlē
Sentence: ”If you make a face, it could get stuck that way”, ”Behave because Santa is watching”, ”This is for your own good”. Many parents use lieperbole to keep their children in line.
Etymology: lie (an intentionally false statement) + hyperbole (exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally)
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COMMENTS:
Very nice. For the win, in my opinion. - mchristof, 2011-06-12: 23:50:00
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Causham
Created by: Rehlit
Pronunciation: kaw-sham
Sentence: Many parents use an insidious causham to frighten their naughty children. Such as "If you eat watermelon seeds, a watermelon will grow in your stomach!"
Etymology: Caution(a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning) + sham (something that is not what it purports to be; a spurious imitation; fraud or hoax; pretended; counterfeit; feigned:)
Awedition
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: aw/dish/un
Sentence: Parents awedition their children because it is a fast, easy way to get the behaviour they expect. Unfortunately, when children are put through too many aweditions and are older, they do not trust anything their parents tell them.
Etymology: awe (fear)+ condition
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COMMENTS:
sounds like something a teacher might do - Jabberwocky, 2007-09-28: 11:59:00
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Dadvice
Created by: dwight
Pronunciation: dad-vice
Sentence: "The dadvice was smokin' yesterday when he found out I had unprotected sex with my English teacher."
Etymology: Dad and advice
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COMMENTS:
Oooh, catchy! Very good! - vixphilia, 2007-09-28: 16:56:00
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Poultrygeist
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: pol tree guyst
Sentence: Chickenita Bantama had a hard time persuading her youngest chick,Henny Youngman, to eat his feed. She finally had to resort to scare tactics and told him the tale of the poultrygeist. It was a scary ghost chicken that came after little chicks that did not eat up their supper. It worked for her, even if some thought it was fowl play...Happy Halloween!
Etymology: Poultry (a domesticated gallinaceous bird) & Poltergeist (a ghost that announces its presence with rapping and the creation of disorder)
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COMMENTS:
LOVING YOUR STORIES - DrWebsterIII, 2012-10-31: 11:24:00
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Scoldoltery
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: skohl-DOHLT-uh-ree
Sentence: Bob's attempt to use the story of "The Three Bears" as a lesson of - thou shal not steal- quickly became another sad saga of scoldoltery for his children.
Etymology: Blend of SCOLD: chide, reprimand, reprove; DOLT: a fool, nitwit & ERY: state or condition with a hint of ADULT " parents" & ADULTERY: cheating; emotion; guilt.
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COMMENTS:
Don't make me count to three!.....one.....twwo...... - metrohumanx, 2008-08-29: 05:58:00
nice - Jabberwocky, 2008-08-29: 11:49:00
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Exaggerisk
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: ex - aj - ur - isk
Sentence: Shelly tended to exaggerisk when she talked to her boys about the dangers lurking in the neighborhood. She was a bit paranoid after seeing the movie about vampires infiltrating rural towns where they might go unnoticed.
Etymology: exaggerate, risk
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COMMENTS:
Mom is just making sure her kids are exaggeready. - artr, 2010-01-20: 12:31:00
There's a New Moon at Twilight! - Nosila, 2010-01-20: 19:23:00
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Kiddiwink
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: kid-DEE-wink
Sentence: When young Bob started studying Latin, he thought that the expression,"in loco parentis "described well his parents' mum - bojumbo and poppalaver. Nevertheless, he was still a bit concerned about their warning to him that if he didn't eat his veggies he wouldn't go to heaven." His Latin teacher, Mr Polly Glott, on hearing about this told him he was being kiddiwinked, and that he should seek to understand the Indonesian proverb," seperti ayam patok anaknya." - - Translating: "as the hen pecks her children." (mock severity of doting parents.)
Etymology: Kid: 1. child, young one, but also teenagers 2.Wink: to humbug, fool, blarney. . Wink (as in hoodwink)to cover the eyes, to blind mentally, to humbug. Kiddiwink: a young child (Australian Slang ???): Although, I never heard it used!
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COMMENTS:
The Kiddiwinkle and Rocky Show. Great word OZ! - Scrumpy, 2007-09-28: 07:56:00
where's the great sentence today?? - Jabberwocky, 2007-09-28: 12:05:00
My granddaughter needed to go to hospital pronto. And things were at sixes and sevens for a while. She may need surgery today: appendicitis ??? - OZZIEBOB, 2007-09-28: 18:22:00
Hope things are okay with your granddaughter. Great cereberal expanding sentence once again! - Scrumpy, 2007-09-28: 18:41:00
you can write her a little story to make her feel better - hope everything's okay - Jabberwocky, 2007-09-28: 19:30:00
Ozpziebob...didn't realize the Oz part meant you were in Australia????...I just arrived in the Godzone (New Zealand) to see my children and grandson...your wee one will be in my thoughts and prayers. - readerwriter, 2008-08-29: 15:25:00
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Mytherhood
Created by: Scrumpy
Pronunciation: mith-er-hood
Sentence: Little Timmy believed the mytherhoods that his parents told him. He was completely suprised when he grew up and wasn't blind.
Etymology: myth + motherhood/fatherhood
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COMMENTS:
Hehe!! Great word too! - purpleartichokes, 2007-09-28: 13:12:00
Great word! :) - vixphilia, 2007-09-28: 16:53:00
Funny sentence, excellent word. Your "suburban legend" comment- also hysterical. - ScrabbledEgg, 2007-09-28: 18:02:00
Great word: bonza of a blend! - OZZIEBOB, 2007-09-30: 18:03:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by remistram. Thank you remistram. ~ James