Euphemism
A euphemism is “the substitution of a mild, indirect
or vague term for one considered to be harsh, blunt, or offensive”. Sometimes
called doublespeak, a euphemism is a word or phrase which pretends to
communicate but doesn’t. It makes the bad seem good, the negative seem positive,
the unnatural seem natural, the unpleasant seem attractive, or at least
tolerable. It is language which avoids, shifts or denies responsibility. It
conceals or prevents thought.
Types of Euphemisms
To Soften an Expression - Some euphemisms are used to make a blunt or obnoxious truth seem less hard.
Examples:
- Passed away instead of died
- Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled
- Relocation center instead of prison camp
- Letting someone go instead of firing someone
- On the streets instead of homeless
Euphemisms
to be Polite - Some euphemisms are used to take the place of words or phrases
one might not want to say in polite circle.
Examples:
- Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
- Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight
- Between jobs instead of unemployed
Euphemism is
frequently used in everyday life
- Blind - Visually challenged
- Crippled - Differently abled
- Poor - economically marginalized
- Fat - gravitationally challenged, Overweight
- Lazy - motivationally deficient
- beggar - panhandler, homeless person
- coffin - casket
- old age - golden age, golden years
- criminal (adj) - illegal
- confinement - detention
- lawyer - attorney
- sick - indisposed, ill, under the weather
- toilet - john, WC, men's room, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory
Example 1
We have to let you go, Tyler.
To “let someone go” is to fire someone. This is a euphemism that
sounds much nicer than the harsh truth of the situation.
Example 2 She’s a very curvy woman. “Curvy” can sometimes be used as a euphemistic way of describing someone who is, in fact, overweight.
Example 3 John was sent to a correctional facility. A “correctional facility” is a more professional and nicer-sounding phrase than jail or prison.
Example 2 She’s a very curvy woman. “Curvy” can sometimes be used as a euphemistic way of describing someone who is, in fact, overweight.
Example 3 John was sent to a correctional facility. A “correctional facility” is a more professional and nicer-sounding phrase than jail or prison.
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