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.
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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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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Phantomime
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: fan-toh-mime
Sentence: it was my first day of teaching, and i had the uneasy feeling that while i was writing my name on the board , the whole class was phantomiming behind my back
Etymology: phantom, pantomime
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COMMENTS:
phantastic! - galwaywegian, 2008-01-28: 07:20:00
Simply brilliant. - ErWenn, 2008-01-28: 10:36:00
Ghoulishly clever! - Tigger, 2008-01-28: 12:16:00
I could become a phan of phantomine! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:50:00
Can you imagine what I'm phantomiming right now?.... wrong - it's 2 thumbs up - Jabberwocky, 2008-01-28: 15:34:00
Great word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:39:00
Great word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:41:00
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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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Mockference
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: mäkfərəns
Sentence: Halfway through the weekly mockference call the company IT guy stopped to see if the newly-repaired webcam was working correctly. Julie, the head jeerleader, suddenly had sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was greatly relieved when Mr. FattyMcButterPants (McFarland) told them that he didn*t know about the repair and had not turned on his monitor.
Etymology: mock (tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner) + conference (a formal meeting for discussion)
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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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)
Invisubordination
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: in viz sub ord in ay shun
Sentence: When the boss was on the road, which luckily was often, he called a phone meeting every morning to keep tabs on the slaves he'd left behind. They made the right noises back at him, but while he was giving them orders and bragging about his ideas, they would commit acts of invisubordination. Between crude gestures, funny faces, stifled laughter and eye-rolling they acted out their true feelings for him. Imagine their surprise when they came in on a Monday morning to find out he had installed televisual equipment and they would have to act as though he was really in the room. What a killjoy!
Etymology: Invisible (unseen;impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye) & Insubordination (defiance of authority)
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.
Hexpression
Created by: Banky
Pronunciation: hecks-press-shun
Sentence: While the caller would blather on about savings on international calls of up to 1.3% over other hucksters, Dana would focus on contorting her face into her telemarketer hexpression, which she was convinced would visit bowel cancer upon these rude troglodytes.
Etymology: hex - a curse or malicious spell, expression - a visual depiction of mood or sentiment
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COMMENTS:
very funny - I'll have to try that some time - Jabberwocky, 2008-01-28: 10:54:00
Great idea! Terrific word! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 11:40:00
Haha. Your sentence was LOL-funny! - Tigger, 2008-01-28: 12:09:00
Great word and sentence! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:48:00
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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