# Need a new word

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-word/1022048>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 14, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-word/1022048 "2025-08-14T17:39:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-word/1022048/21 "2025-08-16T19:47:23Z")

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> [@Rebo](#):
>
> Is there a word for when something seems to be broken, and you finally ask for help, so when you go to show them the broken thing, it magically fixes itself?

Spiteful functionality (“spiteionality” for short).

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-word/1022048/22 "2025-08-16T20:36:16Z")

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In German that is the well known and rightfully dreaded _**[Vorführeffekt](https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Vorfuehreffekt)**_. The _Vorführen_ means showing how somethings _is_ or _works_, only, when you do show it, it does not show what you intended but fails miserably. In English I would call it the “let-me-show-you” or demonstration effect.  
As for the OP: what you are looking for is how to say “oh please don’t make me look like an idiot” more concisely. Sounds like a garden variety of the inferiority complex. There probably is a cure for that, but somebody who writes _Semper Gloriosus!_ next to their name should not need it. Which is just as well, as I can’t think of neither the concise expression nor the cure right now.

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-word/1022048/23 "2025-08-22T10:10:14Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Failidation.

This wins the thread.

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