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)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Verbal gymnastics...I like it!! - Mustang, 2008-11-19: 06:45:00
----------------------------
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)
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)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
good one... - Nosila, 2011-08-30: 08:33:00
----------------------------
Gesticule
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: jes-TICK-yewl
Sentence: Being a timid individual, Roger had no heart for face to face confrontations but when his boss, a man he thoroughly loathed, would call him on the phone or on the intercom, he would gesticule his boss, making a variety of odd facial expressions and obscene hand gestures.
Etymology: A blend of 'gestulate' (to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech.) and 'ridicule' (speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter at a person or thing; derision)
Astricks
Created by: scrabbelicious
Pronunciation: As-trix
Sentence: Sha*n was full of astricks anytime anyone said anything remotely off-the-wall. Always with an astrick up his sleeve, down his pants, in his ear, he was always astricking. Every afternoon he'd meet you with a torrent of Tourettes-like twiches, such a *!£$%^, you know what i mean?
Etymology: Derived from astrix, the symbol * used to denote a wild card, also indicating (here erroneously) intelligent lifeform. Combined with Tricks, as in, methods of deception or tomfoolery.
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Wild! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 17:04:00
----------------------------
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)
Guessticluate
Created by: libertybelle
Pronunciation: guess-tick-you-late
Sentence: Thinking that his extended middle finger could not be seen, Glenn told Barry in not so many words that he thought Barry was "number 1"; too bad Barry saw the guessticulation reflected in the window.
Etymology: guess + gesticulate
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Your pronounciation is as clever as your etymology ... nice word plays ... as always! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:44:00
Another good word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:50:00
----------------------------
Stealthcontempt
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
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
and later comes stealthloathing. - artr, 2010-04-16: 11:16:00
----------------------------
Pantosign
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: pan to sine
Sentence: Harvey's banal suggestions were always met with the usual pantosigns by his supportive employees.
Etymology: pantomime (using gestures, not words) & sign (gesture, motion)
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
Excellent! - silveryaspen, 2008-02-06: 17:57:00
----------------------------
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