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.
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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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
Great word- has slightly militaristic favour, also. - metrohumanx, 2008-11-21: 08:32:00
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Invisign
Created by: Dougalistic
Pronunciation: In-vis-sine
Sentence: Geoff made an invisign to Bob the other day, it was hilarious! As you know Geoff has a fetish for sheep, so Bob, being the funny man he is got hold of Geoff's picture of a sheep and started making thrusting gestures down the phone haha! Geoff would have hit the roof!!
Etymology: Invisible - withdrawn from or out of sight; hidden: e.g. 'an invisible seam'. Sign - any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning.
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COMMENTS:
Very descriptive sentence! [Things that make you go 'Ewe'...] - Tigger, 2008-01-28: 12:06:00
You are so baaaa-d you are good! - silveryaspen, 2008-01-28: 12:41:00
Probably did it with a sheepish grin! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-01-28: 17:01:00
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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
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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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.
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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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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Mimeogaffe
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: mim/ee/oh/gaf
Sentence: Stan's hilarious imitation of his boss as a gorilla turned into a huge mimeogaffe when the boss' face popped up from under the desk.
Etymology: mimicry + mimeograph
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COMMENTS:
Good word...if he had imitated the boss as a girraffe it would have been a mimeogiraffe! - Nosila, 2008-11-19: 23:12:00
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Gesturot
Created by: purpleman
Pronunciation: gest/ter/ot
Sentence: this is usually on fone
Etymology: Gesture+not
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