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.
Glibbondancing
Created by: thegoatisbad
Pronunciation: glib-bun-dan-sing
Sentence: When Zinnia disagreed with someone sitting across the conference table from her, she would smile and, under the table, secretly flip them off. This was too subtle for Kimberly, whose annoyance had evolved in its expression from similarly small gestures to pompous gibbon-dancing.
Etymology: Glib (simply insincere) + Ribbon Dancing (a popular sport among 8 year old women)
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)
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
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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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
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
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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Phantomime
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: fan-toh-mime
Sentence: it was my first day of teaching, and i had the uneasy feeling that while i was writing my name on the board , the whole class was phantomiming behind my back
Etymology: phantom, pantomime
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COMMENTS:
phantastic! - galwaywegian, 2008-01-28: 07:20:00
Simply brilliant. - ErWenn, 2008-01-28: 10:36:00
Ghoulishly clever! - Tigger, 2008-01-28: 12:16:00
I could become a phan of phantomine! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:50:00
Can you imagine what I'm phantomiming right now?.... wrong - it's 2 thumbs up - Jabberwocky, 2008-01-28: 15:34:00
Great word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:39:00
Great word! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:41:00
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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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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