Fool’s Guilt

Cover image for the Fool’s Guilt word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Fool’s Guilt

n.
a pulse of shame you feel even though you’ve done nothing wrong— passing a police car while under the speed limit, being carded after legally ordering a drink, or exiting a store without buying anything.

From fool’s gold + guilt. Also known as a reverse Alford plea, whereby you plead innocent to all charges but want the judge to know that you feel kinda guilty anyway.

O’Erpine

a person looking at a grave

Punt Kick

Cover image for the Punt Kick word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Galagog

a person alone in a snowy desolate landscape

Cullaways

a lone sand castle on a beach at low tide

Gobo

Cover image for the Gobo word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Arroia

people standing on a stage