Vote for the best verboticism.

'Nothing clever to say?'

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.

Create | Read

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.

Lagquip

Created by: jedijawa

Pronunciation: lag-quip

Sentence: Bill could usually be counted on to come up with a lagquip - meaning that it was always a little too late to use it.

Etymology: lag + quip

| Comments and Points

Triptung

Created by: ebehler

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Resputtal

Created by: mplsbohemian

Pronunciation: ree-SPUHT-uhl

Sentence: Alex choked on his resputtal of "Then I'll be sure to clear out my night schedule," a full hour after hearing, "I wouldn't give you the time of day."

Etymology: rebuttal + sputter

| Comments and Points

Verbotomissed

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: ver bott ommm ist

Sentence: He verbotomissed madly as she strutted into the dissedance

Etymology: vertobotomy, missed

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Verbotombest! - Nosila, 2009-10-21: 01:23:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Lollyjesting

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: lälējesting

Sentence: Harry*s repartee could use some tuning. He can generally think of something witty to say in response to another*s comment but his timing is a little off. His sexual innuendo was far less effective and just a little creepy once the group*s conversation had shifted from girlfriends to in-laws. His lollyjesting will often garner a responce of **Huh?**.

Etymology: lollygag (spend time aimlessly; idle) + jesting (a thing said or done for amusement; a joke)

| Comments and Points

Retalilate

Created by: Stevenson0

Pronunciation: ri/tal/ee/late

Sentence: He could always retalilate to her sharp witted put downs, but only a few hours after her verbal slap.

Etymology: retaliate + late

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

great word!! - Jabberwocky, 2007-04-03: 08:39:00

That's a good one! - jedijawa, 2007-04-03: 11:39:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Retord

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: ree-tord

Sentence: My clever retord about his ass being listed as a major source of global warming did not come to me until long after it could be effectively delivered.

Etymology: retort, retard

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

I reckon this one is better than "retortoise" because the tortoise kicked the hair's major source of a problem the American government denies exists. - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:35:00

*hare Duh! - Bulletchewer, 2007-04-03: 17:35:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Lateslate

Created by: Discoveria

Pronunciation: layte-slayte

Sentence: My lateslate "No, your mother's a gas-guzzling user-unfriendly air polluter!" came to me only three minutes later - when the damage had already been dished out.

Etymology: Late + slate (to insult)

| Comments and Points

Retrozinger

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: REH-tro-zyng-ir

Sentence: Several minutes after being Zapped with a major insult by Miriam, Leonard thought of a great comeback and wished he could go back and whack her with a retrozinger, convinced he would then be a 'winner'.

Etymology: Blend of 'retro' (prefix meaning 'backward : back') and 'zinger' (n. something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock)

| Comments and Points

Requipmentfailure

Created by: porsche

Pronunciation: ree/quip/ment/fayl/ur

Sentence: He was constantly plagued by requipmentfailure.

Etymology: re (regarding) + equipment failure + quip

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-03: 00:01:00
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

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-04-03: 11:45:00
Ah oui, "l'ésprit de l'escalier"... Merci pour la suggestion, mplsbohemian ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-20: 03:48:00
Today's definition was suggested by mplsbohemian. Thank you mplsbohemian. ~ James