euphemism

     

A euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offen or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker. It also may be a substitution of a description of something or someone rather than the name, to avoid revealing secret, holy, or sacred names to the uninitiated, or to obscure the identity of the subject of a conversation from potential eavesdroppers. Some euphemisms are intended to be funny.

Trivia about euphemism

  • An expression substituted for one that might be considered offensive
  • The substitution of an inoffensive word for an offensive word is this type of "-ism"
  • The more delicate and vague "to pass away" when used as a substitute for "to die"
  • A harsh expression substituted for a more neutral one is a dysphemism & this is the opposite
  • It's a term or expression used in place of an indelicate or taboo term
  • When I use the phrase "buy the farm" for death, I'm using one of these, from the Greek for "auspicious words"
  • A polite term for a bad word, it comes from the Greek for "good speech"

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