Euphemism – Its Own Kinda Thing

What is Euphemism?

Euphemism is the use of a word or phrase to speak about something  uncomfortable, shameful, taboo, or embarrassing in order to make it more acceptable in conversation. It often avoids directly mentioning the uncomfortable or offensive thing. Like other figurative language tools, euphemisms are not meant to be taken literally. Examples of euphemisms include “passed away” instead of “died” and “let go” instead of “fired”.

When do writers use Euphemism?

AS with most other figurative language tools, when a writer is able to use them correctly,  they can have a powerful impact on the reader. Euphemism is no different. Writers use euphemism when they want to soften the impact of a potentially offensive or uncomfortable topic without directly mentioning it.

When to use Euphemism?

When you want to address a sensitive, uncomfortable, or offensive topic in a more polite manner.
When you want to criticize or satirize or a delicate subject
When you need to speak to children regarding a delicate or sensitive topic
When you’re trying to be politically correct in conversations (Remember, you can’t win them all, but at least you tried.)

DO NOT
Euphemisms are intended to be used indirectly. Do not use them in situations where direct language is more suited to the situations.

Explain the types of Euphemism

Abstraction – Creates a new, fresh scene for the topic being discussed. For example, a person discussing the death of someone might say, “S/he/they has gone to a better place.”
Indirection – This type of euphemism creates distance between the speaker and the actual topic. A common example of an indirect euphemism is when someone says,  “so-and-so slept together” where “slept together” means the persons being discussed had sex.
Litotes – This type of euphemism downplays a situation by making sound as if it were not really that bad or dire. For example, “The family isn’t rich, but they’re not exactly poor.” In this statement, “not exactly poor” means that while the family claims they are not, they are, in fact, very poor.

Euphemism in Literature 📚

1984, George Owell – Among the many. Many euphemisms used by Orwell throughout the book, “the Party” is a euphemism for the government. 

Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway – In the uncomfortable passage below, Hemingway uses the word “operation” and the phrase “let the air in” as a euphemism for abortion during a time when it was not spoken about in public.

MacBeth, William Shakespeare – As with most euphemisms, they address uncomfortable topics that may be taboo, such as the murdering of your husband. In the following excerpt from Shakespeare’s play, Lady MacBeth uses the phrase “provided for” (which could be swapped out for the more modern “taken care of”) as a euphemism for planning to murder her husband.

Euphemism in Everyday Language🧸

“Passed Away” or “kicked the bucket” –  explains that someone has recently died.
“No need to beat around the bush” – An indirect request for another person to be honest and get to the point instead of stalling and skirting around the real topic (Haha. A euphemism used to describe another euphemism).
“Vertically challenged” – this is a polite way of saying a person is incredibly short without outright saying so and accidently embarrassing the person.

Euphemism in Songs 🎧

“Birthday,” Katy Perry – Perry uses “birthday suit as a euphemism for being naked.

“Love Drunk,” Boys Like Girls – In this song, the lyrics, “I used to be love drunk / But now I’m hungover” are euphemism  for saying the singer used to love the person in the song, but now they’re over it and no longer in love with that person.

Examples of Euphemism in Poetry ✍🏽

“Dropping the Euphemism,” Bob Hicok uses the phrase “lay you off” as a euphemism for firing the worker.

“The Flea,” John Donne – In the following stanza of Donne’s poem, he uses the flea and its actions as a euphemism for sex.

Euphemism in Song and Pop Culture 🎧

Shake Your Euphemism, The Blue Man Group: 

Common Euphemisms Used in Advertising 📺

“Genuine, imitation leather” is used to say that something is made from a very low-grade vinyl, rather than primo materials.
“Pre-owned” is probably one of the most well-known examples of euphemism in the advertising world. When something is “pre-owned” it’s simply a polite way of saying something has been used, sometimes over-used.
“Adult beverages” is a euphemism designed for children to understand that the beverage is actually alcoholic and not for them.

Similar, But Not the Same Thing: 👥

Idiom – Something everyone recognizes and uses, but cannot explain or define. It  is a phrase or expression not meant to be taken literally and easily understood by a native language speaker but does not convey the literal meaning of the words used. Example: “It’s raining cats and dogs” means it is raining heavily not that cats and dogs are literally falling from the sky.
Slang – Develops when words or phrases are shortened into new words which have become culturally accepted by one or more groups. Examples include the word “hangry” which derived from the combination of the words “hunger” and “angry” and “bougie” which is a form of the word “bourgeois.”
Vernacular – A way of speaking that is culturally acceptable in a specific region. For example, in the American South, the word “y’all” is used commonplace as a replacement for “you all.”
Clichés – An overused phrase or idiom that has lost its impact due to overuse. Classic examples include: “a rose by any other name,” “read between the lines,” “it’s an uphill battle,” or so-and-so is “a bad egg.” you get the picture, right?
Proverb – A short, concise, often snarky piece of advice, wisdom, or truth. Proverbs are most often confused with euphemisms.
Colloquialism – The use of conversational language, such as idioms and euphemisms,  in your writing makes it more colloquial.

FAQ 🤔