Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n., A feeling of discomfort, common while sitting on a plane or train, created by the sense that you are about to be decapitated by your fellow passengers who are tilting aggressively towards you. v. To sit in a very small space, which seems to be getting smaller.
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.
Claustrauma
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: closs-TRAH-mah
Sentence: The instant the doors close before flight, Delbert always experiences some degree of claustrauma, with unreasonable fear that the plane may crash, and the guy just behind him chanting in unrecognizeable dialect does little to ease his fears.
Etymology: Blend of 'claustrophobia' (an abnormal fear of being in enclosed or narrow places), and 'trauma' (an experience that produces psychological injury or pain)
Claustraumatized
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: closs-TRAW-muh-tyzd
Sentence: Knowing that once the doors of the plane had closed, Clifford began to become claustraumatized very quickly, and the chanting of the odd looking passenger next to him did little to dispel his rising fear.
Etymology: Blend of 'claustrophobia' (an abnormal fear of being in enclosed or narrow places), and 'tramuatized' (to cause a trauma in the mind)
Spaceshuffle
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Spay-ss-shuff-el
Sentence: Mike was dreading the business trip to Paris, he knew he would have to spend the whole trip doing the spaceshuffle, due to his mean bosses booking his flight with Cheapo Airlines. He had been on a strict diet for the past week, so that he would hopefully not be quite as squashed as he was on previous occasions.
Etymology: Space(the dimensions,width and height of an area) + Shuffle(restlessly shift one's position in order to be more comfortable)
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COMMENTS:
Out of this world creation! Quite astro-naughty-call! - silveryaspen, 2008-11-20: 07:53:00
very funny - Jabberwocky, 2008-11-20: 11:44:00
Mike was the fastonaut on the spaceshuffle - OZZIEBOB, 2008-11-20: 16:16:00
Cheapo Airlines...all their staff took up in school was Space! Great word. - Nosila, 2008-11-20: 19:33:00
A Neoclassic. Check in more often! - metrohumanx, 2008-11-21: 08:23:00
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Narrowbinded
Created by: thegoatisbad
Pronunciation: nhar-oh-byn-ded
Sentence: Zinnia liked to think of herself as open-minded but her commute to work, via public transport, had slowed changed her mind. Indeed, she was now so anxious of being narrowbinded that she would go to great lengths to assure a seat by herself. The fake dog stool she found at a gag shop was a good deterrent, but she left it on too many buses and was arousing suspicion among the drivers. She finally discovered that the best way to protect her person space from breech was to softly sing while eating canned tuna.
Etymology: narrow (small space) + binded (sic. secure by tying) play on "narrow minded"
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COMMENTS:
Hilarious! - splendiction, 2010-04-19: 21:47:00
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Boeingconstrictor
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: bow/ing/constrictor
Sentence: I got swallowed up by a boeingconstrictor on my last flight.
Etymology: boeing aircraft + boa constrictor
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COMMENTS:
Hilarious! lol! - bananabender, 2008-01-29: 18:38:00
great wordplay. There's also the tight constricted feeling for your etymology too. - bananabender, 2008-01-29: 21:45:00
Good one, bookowl! If the passenger is not sitting on the aisle, would that make them a window viper? - Nosila, 2008-01-29: 22:48:00
Great word for all the planes with their cramped seating ... Right on! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-29: 23:57:00
Clever & funny! Good word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-30: 16:14:00
Good one! - chaiandallthatjazz, 2008-01-31: 10:55:00
Did you hear about the man who crossed a parrot with a boa constrictor. He didn't know what he got, but believe me, when it talks-he listens. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-02-05: 19:44:00
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Trishcompactor
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: trishkəmpaktər
Sentence: Patty thought her Smart car was a great idea when she first ordered it. Now, every time she looks at it, it seems to get smaller. It's even worse when she gets in and drives it anywhere. Wedged between a couple of 18-wheelers, it becomes a real Trishcompactor. Her 250-pound friend Noah refers to his as his Noahconstrictor.
Etymology: Trish (nickname for Patricia) + compactor (a device that compresses trash)
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COMMENTS:
Maybe Trish & Noah should carpool. It might bring them closer. - wayoffcenter, 2008-11-20: 06:03:00
Great pun fun with names ... a real smile awhile. - silveryaspen, 2008-11-20: 07:40:00
love Noahconstrictor - Jabberwocky, 2008-11-20: 11:40:00
I really debated with myself whether to officially enter Trishcompactor or Noahconstrictor. - artr, 2008-11-20: 12:53:00
fabulously funny -luv: noahconstrictor. Throes a diferent light on the Ark. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-11-20: 16:22:00
Love both names...plus I hate SMART cars...where would I put my purse or groceries in one??? - Nosila, 2008-11-20: 19:42:00
EGAD! That's hilarious! - metrohumanx, 2008-11-21: 08:29:00
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Encroachaphobia
Created by: Redrover
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Ralph was so freaked when he flew coach when the passenger in front of him reclined his seat that he was forced to spend the money and fly first class.
Etymology: encroach - to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, esp. stealthily or by gradual advances; phobia - a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it
Economyclasstrophobia
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: eek on oh meee klass trow fow beee aaa
Sentence: recessions mean dealing with your economyclasstrophobia.
Etymology: claustrophobia, economy class
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COMMENTS:
terrifically topical - Jabberwocky, 2008-11-20: 11:43:00
Very good. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-11-20: 16:14:00
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Encroachclass
Created by: libertybelle
Pronunciation: en-kroach-klass
Sentence: The plane hadn't even left the terminal when I realized that my bargain ticket placed me smack in the middle of encroach-class - where the person in front of me had already put his jacket over the back of my seat, thus rendering my tray table useless, and reclined all the way back. The fact that I was sitting in an exit row and could not recline made my encroach-class predicament all the more uncomfortable.
Etymology: encroach + coach class
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by gemmgemms. Thank you gemmgemms. ~ James
silveryaspen - 2008-01-29: 09:30:00
Evocative cartoon ... crushed-people like sardines in a tinned-canny airplane with that overpowering fishy smell closing in on everything! Very clever!
Hey Silveryaspen, Thanks for the kind words. Smells like croosht shoup ~ James
Excellent word. Makes me wonder who that was and what they were chanting.
Today's definition was suggested by gemmgemms. Thank you gemmgemms. ~ James