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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

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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)

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Asnide

Created by: Tigger

Pronunciation: /uh-sniyd'/

Sentence: For once, during the staff meeting, Mr. Leeds was calling in from a remote office, and the staff, normally daunted by his blustery manner, each expressed their true feelings in an asnide directed at the speakerphone, while maintaining their usual, timid responses.

Etymology: aside - actor's lines not heard by others on the stage (Old English, a- + sīd "to one side") + snide - derogatory in a nasty, insinuating manner (Origin unknown, from thieves' slang for "counterfeit or sham")

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COMMENTS:

Funny! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 11:43:00

I like it! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:54:00

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Hidicruel

artr

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)

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Gesturot

Created by: purpleman

Pronunciation: gest/ter/ot

Sentence: this is usually on fone

Etymology: Gesture+not

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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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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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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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Blindsign

Created by: silveryaspen

Pronunciation: bl-eye-nd-s-eye-nd

Sentence: The two siblings could say one thing while they used blindsign to say another, taking double speak to a whole new level.

Etymology: a play on blind, sign, and eye

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COMMENTS:

Short and sweet: good word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:41:00

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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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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