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.
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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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)
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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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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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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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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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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Jesture
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: jest chur
Sentence: When their Boss came up with one of his lame-brain ideas on a conference call, his loyal staff were each doing a rendition of a jesture. They thought he was dumb, until he replayed the camera phone shots he had of each them for their annual reviews...way to not get raises, duh!
Etymology: Jest (activity characterized by good humor;act in a funny or teasing way)& Gesture(the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals)
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COMMENTS:
Awesome, love it! - Biscotti, 2011-08-30: 08:11:00
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Gesticulatent
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: jest tick you klay tent.
Sentence: Every time Fred called his employees on the phone from his travels, his reponses would be a bunch of gesticulatent signals from his rather immature staff.
Etymology: gesticulate (to show, express or direct through movement) & latent (at some eventual time in the future, potential)
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COMMENTS:
Excellent combination. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-19: 20:17:00
A beautiful word. I am stunned by the brevity of your sentence. Still love it, though! - metrohumanx, 2008-11-21: 08:34:00
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Contradigitation
Created by: CanadianAndyCapp
Pronunciation: CONTRA-DIGIT-ATION
Sentence: "Despite her verbal assurances to the contrary during the course of the phone call, her annoyance was clearly discernable through the contradigitation of her facial expression and hand gestures
Etymology:
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