Vote for the best verboticism.

'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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You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.

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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Phoneyexpress

Created by: Tjay33

Pronunciation: Fone-ee-xpress

Sentence: The whole office joined in on the Phoneyexpress after listening to the bosses phone call stating the new office rules.

Etymology: phone + Phoney + expression = PHONEYEXPRESS

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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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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

artr

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)

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Stealthcontempt

mrskellyscl

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:

artr and later comes stealthloathing. - artr, 2010-04-16: 11:16:00

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Unoggled

Created by: alexyateswyke

Pronunciation: un-oggled

Sentence: that was well unoggled

Etymology:

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Bactions

Created by: Biscotti

Pronunciation: back shuns

Sentence: The team didn't realize their video conference with the company's CEO was two-way, and proceeded to perform many bactions towards him. He pretended to not see them and the next day all their desks had been moved to janitors closets.

Etymology: back (behind you) + actions (movements or gestures)

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COMMENTS:

good one... - Nosila, 2011-08-30: 08:33:00

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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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Loserofinger

Created by: wackyscience

Pronunciation: Loo-zer-o-fing-err

Sentence: The classroom was brimming with so much boredom during the Geography period that all the students started loserofingering the bespectacled old hag of a teacher. I dont blame them, that woman probably ate maps for breakfast and compasses for dinner.

Etymology: Loser( A widely used word with wide definitions. Could describe a geek or a nerd. Or could describe someone who irritates you badly, and you get pissed off. Used to demean a person and provokes several wonderful gestures. )-o-fingering( Finger is the one of the 8 things sticking out of your arms [the other two are thumbs] that you use for a variety of purposes for personal pleasure or for sadism and paranoia.)

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COMMENTS:

metrohumanx Creative etymology.Were you traumatized by that geo class? - metrohumanx, 2008-11-19: 20:19:00

metrohumanx Are you making those definitions up? If so, don't stop. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-20: 02:28:00

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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