Euphemism

A euphemism is an expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces.

Classification of euphemisms

Many euphemisms fall into one or more of these categories:

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• Terms of foreign origin (derriere, copulation, perspire, urinate, etc.)
• Abbreviations (SOB for "son of a bitch", BS for "bullshit", TS for "tough shit", etc.)
• Abstractions (it, the situation, go, left the company)
• Indirections (behind, unmentionables, privates, live together, go to the bathroom etc.)
• Mispronunciation (goldarnit, freakin, shoot, etc.)
• Plays on abbreviations (barbecue sauce for "bull shit", sugar honey ice tea for "shit", Maryland farmer for "motherfucker", etc.)

There is some disagreement over whether certain terms are or are not euphemisms. For example, sometimes the phrase visually impaired is labeled as a politically correct euphemism for blind. However, visual impairment can be a broader term, including, for example, people who have partial sight in one eye, a group that would be excluded by the word blind.

Related Topics:
Politically correct - Blind

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There are three antonyms of euphemism, dysphemism, cacophemism, and power word. The first can be either offensive or merely humorously deprecating with the second one generally used more often in the sense of something deliberately offensive. The last is used mainly in arguments to make a point seem more correct.

Related Topics:
Antonym - Dysphemism

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