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'So team, what do you think of my new idea?'

DEFINITION: n., An expressive gesture made with the belief that the person it is directed at cannot see it, typically occurs during telephone conversations, email discourses, and behind people's backs. v. To use an unseen gesture to express what you cannot say.

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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.

Mimeogaffe

Created by: bookowl

Pronunciation: mim/ee/oh/gaf

Sentence: Stan's hilarious imitation of his boss as a gorilla turned into a huge mimeogaffe when the boss' face popped up from under the desk.

Etymology: mimicry + mimeograph

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COMMENTS:

Good word...if he had imitated the boss as a girraffe it would have been a mimeogiraffe! - Nosila, 2008-11-19: 23:12:00

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Sneerleader

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: snērlēdər

Sentence: As Debbie was climbing a ladder wearing the company uniform including an apron emblazoned with a large company logo, one more customer asked "that" question. "Do you work here"? That's when she snapped. She held it together long enough to direct them to their desired item but as they headed to the register, from atop her ladder she turned into a sneerleader. It was all the clerk at the register could do to keep a straight face as Debbie mocked from her elevated perch.

Etymology: sneer (a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone) + leader (the person who leads or commands) derivitive of cheerleader (a person who leads cheers and applause, esp. at a sports event)

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COMMENTS:

I wondered why the checkout clerk was in such a good mood... - wayoffcenter, 2008-11-19: 06:21:00

Rah RAh ! - Nosila, 2008-11-19: 23:14:00

Excellent - OZZIEBOB, 2008-11-20: 00:34:00

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Ghasture

Ghyarlae

Created by: Ghyarlae

Pronunciation: gas-ture

Sentence: In almost every comedy movie there is a scene when someone is telling a disastrous thing to the other person and the third one present makes a "NO!" ghasture behind their head.

Etymology: ghastly(can bring doom) + gesture(a sign that you make with hand/body)

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Handestine

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: han/dess/tine

Sentence: They thought the CEO couldn't see the one fingered handestine salute he was given behind his back. Little did they know he wore two way mirrored glasses.

Etymology: hand + clandestine (covert)

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COMMENTS:

digitally enhanced vision! like it - galwaywegian, 2008-01-28: 07:19:00

I seriously debated over whether to even bother trying to make a word today, I liked this one so much...fantabulous. - Banky, 2008-01-28: 08:22:00

This will be heard, for it's such a handy word, by design, usefully fine! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:52:00

Handsome! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:21:00

I have to hand it to you! You handled this challenge well!! Easily the best word today!!! - Stevenson0, 2008-01-28: 21:01:00

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Handestine

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: han/dess/tine

Sentence: They thought the CEO couldn't see the one fingered handestine salute he was given behind his back. Little did they know he wore two way mirrored glasses.

Etymology: hand + clandestine (covert)

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COMMENTS:

Verbal gymnastics...I like it!! - Mustang, 2008-11-19: 06:45:00

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Clandesderide

metrohumanx

Created by: metrohumanx

Pronunciation: clan-DESS-de-ride (clandesderision)

Sentence: Whether it be an inane administrative voicemail, an idiotic conference call or just a monotonous moronic powerpoint presentation in a semi-darkened meeting, The Gang of Three would always CLANDESDERIDE every harebrained suggestion, pretentious "vision statement" or ill-conceived initiative that our overpaid executives would concoct in an attempt to be more "proactive" in running the company into the ground. One-way memos pathetically posted were as dead as the mimeograph machine, and the creativity generated by the phenomena of "hands-on" interactive micromanagement usually took the form of mysterious holy gestures, usually obscene...but always entertaining. The art of CLANDESDERISION will flourish until the advent of video teleconferencing and the ubiquitous webcam results in the tragic extinction of our sarcastic native species.

Etymology: CLANDEStine+DERIDE=CLANDESDERIDE..... CLANDESTINE:marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy;Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide...DERIDE:to subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule,to laugh at contemptuously;Latin deridēre, from de- + ridēre to laugh. :)

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COMMENTS:

metrohumanx No respect? http://www.rodney.com/rodney/home/home.asp - metrohumanx, 2008-11-19: 20:36:00

DaddyNewt much respect - DaddyNewt, 2008-11-21: 23:33:00

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Rearaction

Created by: TJayzz

Pronunciation: Ree-er-act-shun

Sentence: Norman was completely oblivious to the rearaction that was going on behind his back when he expressed his ideas for the new office decor. Everyone sounded like they were full of praise and approval whilst their hidden gestures told a very different story.

Etymology: Rear(at the back, behind) ORIGIN Old French rere from Latin retro 'back' + Action(a thing done) = Rearaction

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COMMENTS:

Sounds almost kinky...works though. - Mustang, 2008-11-19: 07:58:00

metrohumanx Great word- has slightly militaristic favour, also. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-21: 08:32:00

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Hideandspeak

Created by: bananabender

Pronunciation: HAHYD-n-speek

Sentence: Having had some acting lessons but never playing a paying role, Marla put her "talents" to good use in the office. She hideandspeaks her boss daily by making funny faces and rude gestures while saying all the right things. These days she isn't bothered by work-related stress at all.

Etymology: a play on the children's game hide-and-seek. HIDE: conceal from sight, not speak one's mind, not speak the truth. SPEAK: talk. Also HIDE: the gestures are hidden from the boss. AND SEEK: the boss needs to seek out what the employees REALLY think about it.

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COMMENTS:

Excellent! - ErWenn, 2008-01-28: 10:36:00

Very creative, BB. - Tigger, 2008-01-28: 12:19:00

Oh you bring out the child in all of us ... in the most delightful way! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:48:00

Childhood memories come flooding back! Good word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:53:00

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Gesteliate

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: jes-tel-EE-eyt

Sentence: Whenever his boss called him making a new pledge on worker's rights, Bob gesteliated by putting his hand over the phone, and singing aloud the words of the chorus from the Joe Hill song, (The Preacher & the Slave): "You will eat bye and bye, In that glorious land above the sky; Work and pray, live on hay, You will get pie in the sky when you die."

Etymology: Blend of GESTURE: use of movement of arms, hands, head etc to express emotion, thought etc & Tel(e) from afar as in telephone & TALIATE as in retaliate to take action.

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COMMENTS:

Would have never thought to put these two together ... great combo! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:43:00

your definitions always sound so convincing - Jabberwocky, 2008-01-28: 15:32:00

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| Comments and Points

Agreegiousture

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: uh-gree-jes-cher

Sentence: Once a month the big boss calls in for a conference call to the local office. Luckily for the local staff the company has not invested in video conferencing technology, otherwise the boss would see the agreegiousture that accompanies each positive response. The real challenge is to not burst out laughing as staff members take turns mocking the caller.

Etymology: agree (to have the same views, emotions, etc) + egregious (extraordinary in some bad way) + gesture (a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc)

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-01-28: 00:01:00
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James

Maxine - 2008-01-28: 08:57:00
This is a really great cartoon!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-01-28: 11:03:00
Thanks Maxine! ~ James

libertybelle libertybelle - 2008-01-28: 11:12:00
I love the guy making a grab at himself - made me laugh out loud.

silveryaspen - 2008-01-28: 13:16:00
Fun definition, Erwenn. Your cartoon was uproariously funny, James. All the creations were a hoot,great job verbotomists!

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-01-28: 14:30:00
ErWenn's definitions always always seem to generate a good laugh. See: Let me hold the door for you... Thanks! ~ James

silveryaspen - 2008-11-20: 08:25:00
Missed you all. Nice to be back.

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-04-16: 00:10:00
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James