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.
Ghasture
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)
Handygraphed
Created by: silveryaspen
Pronunciation: han dee graff t
Sentence: Larry considered himself quite the lothario. He used clandesigns (clandestine signs) to signal other men in the area, to indicate what he thought of any woman near him, and how he rated them. He was pretty handy-dandy at sly signs. You could see, or say, he perfected the art of handygraphed!
Etymology: Interplay of the words of hand and graphed along with a pun on the word handicraft. Handy - skillful with the hands. Graphed - represented with signs. Handicraft - anything made with manual skills also known as hand skills.
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COMMENTS:
welcome back - Jabberwocky, 2008-11-19: 13:28:00
And so say all of us. Nice word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-11-19: 16:47:00
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Dissplay
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: diss pl ae
Sentence: He went through a wide range of dissplays for the benefit of the rest of the staff, who found it hilarious, especially since they had neglected to point out the newly installed webcam sitting atop hia monitor.
Etymology: display, diss as in disrespect
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COMMENTS:
Excellent! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 11:38:00
like it - Jabberwocky, 2008-01-28: 12:32:00
well done! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:49:00
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Secremove
Created by: gemmgemms
Pronunciation: see-creh-moo-va
Sentence: As he argued with his girlfriend, in his anger, he bravely attempted a very rude secremove behind his back hoping she would not see.
Etymology: secret+move
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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Gesturot
Created by: purpleman
Pronunciation: gest/ter/ot
Sentence: this is usually on fone
Etymology: Gesture+not
Fliphandcy
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: flip/hand/see
Sentence: Sue was convinced that her fliphandcy would be construed as mere frivolity.
Etymology: flip (as in flip the finger) + hand + flippancy
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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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