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Semaphorismsem-uh-fawr-iz-uhm
n. A conversational hint that you have something personal to say on the subject but don't go any further--an emphatic nod, a half-told anecdote, an enigmatic "I know the feeling"--which you place into conversation like those little flags that warn diggers of something buried underground: an unexploded bomb, a sacred burial ground, or a high-voltage cable that secretly powers your house.
Etymology
From semaphore, a communication method used at sea, in which sailors stand on deck and move flags into certain positions to convey simple messages. Pronounced “sem-uh-fawr-iz-uhm.”
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