To Discombobulate, Or Not To Discombobulate?

 On a recent Sunday morning, after a slightly large night out drinking, my sensational friend Sandy announced that she was feeling rather discombobulated.

Whilst I agreed with and indeed shared Sandy’s feeling of discombobulation, I was absolutely convinced that she had just invented a splendid new word.

We consulted our excellent associate Erin on this important matter and somewhere along the way it was brought to my attention that discombobulate must indeed be a word because none other than Nicole Kidman had recently used the word ‘discombobulating’ in an interview. [Click link below to read more....]

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If you need evidence, and I’m ashamed to say that I did, click here and watch at 3m40s to hear Nicole use (and also trip over!) this after all not so newly discovered word.

There is even a piece of music entitled Discombobulate, from the 2009 Sherlock Holmes film.  Sherlock uses the word when describing a boxing match strategy in the film.

So there we have it, according to Nicole Kidman, Sherlock Holmes and even Microsoft spell check, discombobulate is indeed a word; albeit one of slang origins.  However, here’s the twist, discombobulate has no opposite!  Once one has become discombobulated, there seems to be no way back!  Recombobulation has yet to be invented, neither it seems has combobulation.

I think there may be still be a way out though.  Several online dictionaries describe discombobulation as a feeling not only of confusion, but also of discomfort and even embarrassment.  Since there is no need for friends to be uncomfortable or embarrassed in the company of each other, a night out should never end in true discombobulation. 

Or you could just pay a visit to Milwaukee, where the airport has a Recombobulation Area where passengers can sort out laptops, belts, shoes and what have you after going through security.  Such is the fame of the Recombobulation Area, a local boutique brewery has created a Recombobulation ale in its honour.  Now that might just make a good hair of the dog :)

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