Vote for the best verboticism.
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.
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.
Stealthcontempt
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: stealth-con-tempt
Sentence: Eighth grade teachers feel a certain amount of stealthcontempt every time they turn their backs to their class. Girls giggle, pencils get dropped and a new generation of class clowns begin honing their skills at the teacher's expense. The young comics eventually learn, though, that the teacher really does have eyes in the back of her head, knows every trick in the book, and is not amused. The fledgling jesters are doomed to spend many long hours of their young lives doing long division problems and cleaning erasers.
Etymology: wordplay on self-contempt: to consider oneself as inferior; to mock or deride oneself -- stealth: an action done covertly or in secret + contempt: scorn, disrespect, open dislike; to be considered as inferior
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COMMENTS:
and later comes stealthloathing. - artr, 2010-04-16: 11:16:00
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Unseenisms
Created by: Llama
Pronunciation: Un-seen-isms
Sentence: The poor director had no idea of the horrible unseenisms his subordinates were giving him over the phone.
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
There is a place for this word in our language! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:57:00
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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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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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Invisisult
Created by: LordRahlsFav
Pronunciation: in-Viz-i-sult
Sentence: When Jill suddenly turned around, she almost saw me flipping her off. I'm glad she didn't catch me invisisulting her. She would be angry if she had seen my invisisult.
Etymology: invisi- as in invisible meaning unseen -sult, as in insult, meaning something unpleasant directed at someone or something.
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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Shomotion
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: sho mo shun
Sentence: When their boss called on a conference call from Honolulu with one of his hare-brained ideas, the office staff did their shomotion repertoire to indicate their disapproval. It worked fine until the boss installed Skype...
Etymology: Show (a public exhibition;expression)& Motion (gesture;non-verbal communcation)
Hidicruel
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: hidikroōəl
Sentence: Jerry ”accidently” disabled the video aspect of the weekly conference call with the home office so that he could hidicruel whatever new directive was to be delivered. As he openly mocked his bosses, his co-workers were hard pressed to contain their laughter.
Etymology: hidden (kept out of sight; concealed) + ridicule (the subjection of someone or something to mockery and derision) + cruel (causing pain or suffering)
Oblivisign
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /əˈblɪvəˌsain/
Sentence: Oblivisigning can be intentional and undermining (as in the case of cammoflipoffs and incognigagging), accidental and ineffectual (e.g. imbecignals and pointless pointing), or merely unconscious and superfluous (like redundanods and gratuithrusting).
Etymology: oblivious + sign
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COMMENTS:
Your verboticisms are only excelled by your sentences ... you way with words is ever so large! You bring fun and delight ... in a large way! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:47:00
Crazy sentence with some crazy words! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:58:00
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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
Great word- has slightly militaristic favour, also. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-21: 08:32:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James
Maxine - 2008-01-28: 08:57:00
This is a really great cartoon!
Thanks Maxine! ~ James
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!
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.
Today's definition was suggested by ErWenn. Thank you ErWenn. ~ James