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:

Verbal gymnastics...I like it!! - Mustang, 2008-11-19: 06:45:00

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Gestrionics

Created by: loxhobabl

Pronunciation: jess-tree-ah-nix

Sentence: I wish I could see your gestrionics now because the truth hurts.

Etymology: gesture + histrionics

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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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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)

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COMMENTS:

Excellent! - silveryaspen, 2008-02-06: 17:57:00

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Sneerleader

artr

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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Ghasture

Ghyarlae

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)

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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 and Points

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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Gesticuliaration

Created by: Chants

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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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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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