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.
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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Hexpression
Created by: Banky
Pronunciation: hecks-press-shun
Sentence: While the caller would blather on about savings on international calls of up to 1.3% over other hucksters, Dana would focus on contorting her face into her telemarketer hexpression, which she was convinced would visit bowel cancer upon these rude troglodytes.
Etymology: hex - a curse or malicious spell, expression - a visual depiction of mood or sentiment
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COMMENTS:
very funny - I'll have to try that some time - Jabberwocky, 2008-01-28: 10:54:00
Great idea! Terrific word! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 11:40:00
Haha. Your sentence was LOL-funny! - Tigger, 2008-01-28: 12:09:00
Great word and sentence! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:48:00
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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)
Agreegiousture
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: uh-gree-jes-cher
Sentence: Once a month the big boss calls in for a conference call to the local office. Luckily for the local staff the company has not invested in video conferencing technology, otherwise the boss would see the agreegiousture that accompanies each positive response. The real challenge is to not burst out laughing as staff members take turns mocking the caller.
Etymology: agree (to have the same views, emotions, etc) + egregious (extraordinary in some bad way) + gesture (a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc)
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
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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
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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)
Unseenisms
Created by: Llama
Pronunciation: Un-seen-isms
Sentence: The poor director had no idea of the horrible unseenisms his subordinates were giving him over the phone.
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
There is a place for this word in our language! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 16:57:00
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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
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)
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COMMENTS:
good one... - Nosila, 2011-08-30: 08:33:00
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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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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