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.

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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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)

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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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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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Gesticuemock

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: jess-TIK-yew-mawk

Sentence: Rupert hated his boss and when talking to him by phone he would gesticuemock the boss with exaggerated and often obscene hand signals and gestures.

Etymology: Blend of 'gesticulate' (to express by gesturing) and 'mock' (a contemptuous or derisive imitative action or speech; mockery or derision)

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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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Twofaceteam

Created by: kmartinmt

Pronunciation: two-face-team

Sentence: it's hard to get respect if you have a "twofaceteam."

Etymology:

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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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Derrign

Created by: bluemukaki

Pronunciation: de-rhyne

Sentence: "I'm sick of those stupid derrrigns Bob does in our photos. can't he rub his nipples in someone else's photos?"

Etymology: der[ogatory]+ [S]ign, portmanteau of Derogatory and Sign. R added for pronunciation.

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Hidicruel

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: hidikroōəl

Sentence: Jerry ”accidently” disabled the video aspect of the weekly conference call with the home office so that he could hidicruel whatever new directive was to be delivered. As he openly mocked his bosses, his co-workers were hard pressed to contain their laughter.

Etymology: hidden (kept out of sight; concealed) + ridicule (the subjection of someone or something to mockery and derision) + cruel (causing pain or suffering)

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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