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.
Clandesderide
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: clan-DESS-de-ride (clandesderision)
Sentence: Whether it be an inane administrative voicemail, an idiotic conference call or just a monotonous moronic powerpoint presentation in a semi-darkened meeting, The Gang of Three would always CLANDESDERIDE every harebrained suggestion, pretentious "vision statement" or ill-conceived initiative that our overpaid executives would concoct in an attempt to be more "proactive" in running the company into the ground. One-way memos pathetically posted were as dead as the mimeograph machine, and the creativity generated by the phenomena of "hands-on" interactive micromanagement usually took the form of mysterious holy gestures, usually obscene...but always entertaining. The art of CLANDESDERISION will flourish until the advent of video teleconferencing and the ubiquitous webcam results in the tragic extinction of our sarcastic native species.
Etymology: CLANDEStine+DERIDE=CLANDESDERIDE..... CLANDESTINE:marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy;Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide...DERIDE:to subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule,to laugh at contemptuously;Latin deridēre, from de- + ridēre to laugh. :)
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COMMENTS:
No respect?
http://www.rodney.com/rodney/home/home.asp - metrohumanx, 2008-11-19: 20:36:00
much respect - DaddyNewt, 2008-11-21: 23:33:00
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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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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)
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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Sneerleader
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: snērlēdər
Sentence: As Debbie was climbing a ladder wearing the company uniform including an apron emblazoned with a large company logo, one more customer asked "that" question. "Do you work here"? That's when she snapped. She held it together long enough to direct them to their desired item but as they headed to the register, from atop her ladder she turned into a sneerleader. It was all the clerk at the register could do to keep a straight face as Debbie mocked from her elevated perch.
Etymology: sneer (a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone) + leader (the person who leads or commands) derivitive of cheerleader (a person who leads cheers and applause, esp. at a sports event)
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COMMENTS:
I wondered why the checkout clerk was in such a good mood... - wayoffcenter, 2008-11-19: 06:21:00
Rah RAh ! - Nosila, 2008-11-19: 23:14:00
Excellent - OZZIEBOB, 2008-11-20: 00:34:00
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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)
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:
Momock
Created by: logarithm
Pronunciation: mo-mok
Sentence:
Etymology: Mimic - imitate (a person, a manner, etc.), especially for satirical effect. Mock - the act of mocking or ridiculing.
Incognitolate
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: in - cog - NEET - oh - late
Sentence: Knowing the boss couldnt see him as the talked by phone, Hubert took delight in incognitolating with various rude and even vulgar gestures.
Etymology: Incognito (anonymous) and gesticulate.
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COMMENTS:
Beware Hubert that your boss doesn't have eyes in the back of his head! If so, his parting gesture might not be so pleasant! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 17:25:00
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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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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