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.

Common examples

Other common euphemisms include:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• restroom for toilet room (the word toilet was itself originally a euphemism). This is an Americanism.
• making love to, playing with or sleeping with for having sexual intercourse with
• motion discomfort bag and air-sickness bag for vomit bag
• sanitary landfill for garbage dump (and a temporary garbage dump is a transfer station)
• pre-owned vehicles for used cars
• the big C for cancer (in addition, some people whisper the word when they say it in public, and doctors have euphemisms to use in front of patients)
• bathroom tissue, t.p., or bath tissue for toilet paper (Usually used by toilet paper manufacturers)
• custodian for janitor (also originally a euphemism—in Latin, it means doorman.)
• sanitation worker for "garbage man"
• mixologist for bartender
• Where can I wash my hands? or Where can I powder my nose? for Where can I find a toilet?. (This is also an Americanism. If this question is asked in Europe to someone not used to American habits the person who asks the question might actually end up at a place where there just only is a washbasin and not at a place equipped according to their needs. On the other hand, Americans might find the more direct question rude if asked by Europeans who don't know about this euphemism.)

These lists might suggest that most euphemisms are well-known expressions. Often euphemisms can be somewhat situational; what might be used as a euphemism in a conversation between two friends might make no sense to a third person. In this case, the euphemism is being used as a type of innuendo. As an example, in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the Banks family (who are black) discuss Hilary's new boyfriend, who happens to be white, using tall as a euphemism for white. Will, who apparently doesn't catch on, remarks that he is the only one who seems to notice the new boyfriend is white.

Related Topics:
Innuendo - Television - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The inflation of occupational titles is similar to the euphemism treadmill. For instance, the engineering professions have traditionally resisted the tendency by other technical trades to appropriate the prestige of the title engineer. Most people calling themselves software engineers or network engineers are not, in fact, accredited in engineering. Extreme cases, such as sanitation engineer for janitor are cited humorously more often than they are used seriously.

Related Topics:
Engineering - Software engineers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the television cartoon series "The Flintstones", Fred takes a job as the live-in superintendent of a large apartment building and is given a title using the word engineer to make his job sound more important than it actually is. As he and his wife are moving in, a policeman is about to write him a parking ticket for being illegally parked in front of the building. He informs the officer that he is (as the building's owner referred to him) the "Resident Stationary Engineer" for the building. The cop turns to him and says, "I don't care if you are the janitor, move this car now!"

Related Topics:
Television - Cartoon - The Flintstones - Superintendent - Parking ticket

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Less extreme cases, such as custodian for janitor, are considered more terms of respect than euphemisms.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The word euphemism itself can be used as a euphemism. In the animated short It's Grinch Night (See Dr. Seuss), a child asks to go to the euphemism, where euphemism is being used as a euphemism for outhouse.

Related Topics:
Dr. Seuss - Outhouse

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~