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Just received an e-mail message from my choir director informing me that the organist's father died and choir practice was cancelled and music plans are changing after the Sunday bulletin has been printed. She concludes: "So, as you can see, our musical plans for Sunday have become quite discombooberated!"
This term does not appear in any of my dictionaries, yet I understand quite well what she means. This must present an additional challenge to ESL folks, having to learn not only the formal English language, but these sorts of made-up words, as well.
Following this week's theme about taking the negative out of words, is a "combooberated" person one who has it all together? Or just both of them together? Or what?
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Funny - we use "discombobulated". But I figure it means the same thing. Dictionary.com has this to say:
dis·com·bob·u·late (dskm-bby-lt) v. tr. dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing, dis·com·bob·u·lates.
To throw into a state of confusion. See Synonyms at confuse.
FWIW
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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CapK uses discombobulated
That is certainly the form I learned at my mother(of whichever sex*)'s knee. I suspect a student of ESL would have similar problems with that one. I doubt if it's high on the list of Important Vocabulary Words.
*I think it was my father who used it.
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I suspect a student of ESL would have similar problems with that one. I doubt if it's high on the list of Important Vocabulary Words.
Granted. Don't think I've used it in conversation ... ever! It would get me branded as uppity, I would imagine.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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I have a friend who speaks and writes using nonce words like this; words like 'contravivulated' and 'goofaglarbian' and 'slipshodderiness' -- you'll not find these in any dictionary, but you know pretty much what he means, in context. (as an aside, he styles himself as jmh; not to be confused with our own).
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The Padre postulates: Following this week's theme about taking the negative out of words, is a "combooberated" person one who has it all together? Or just both of them together?
nota bene: Kaintuck's sleaze police spies are watching.....
(down here in the South of the good ol' US we say 'discombobulated' ... never heard the 'boob' variety.)
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In reference to discombobulated CapK remarks that using it: "...would get me branded as uppity"
US'ns have always used it in a mock rustic way.
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I've often heard discombobulated also, but usually from strick non-swearers who do not want to say f****d-up and never from a guy.
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A "Mock Rustic" approach in Zild would be what Bel has said discombobulated is substituted for in her world. And both sexes would participate these days, I might add.
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is a "combooberated" person one who has it all together? Or just both of them together? Or what?
C'mere a minute, F.S.--I wish to discombooberate you.
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