All of us live in an age where communication is an effortless task, and at the same time, we end up having misunderstandings and disagreements just because of the way something was said. Whatever you wish to convey, the kind of words you use and the way you put them decide how they would be perceived by the listener or reader. It is always difficult to communicate sad news or a negative opinion. The English language has a figure of speech called euphemism that will help you avoid this problem. In this article, you will learn what euphemism is, its definition, how to use euphemisms in a sentence and the points to remember when using euphemisms. The article also provides you with an extensive list of the most commonly used euphemisms for your reference.
Table of Contents
- What Is Euphemism? – Meaning and Definition
- Using Euphemism in Sentences – Points to Remember
- Examples of Sentences Using Euphemism
- Frequently Asked Questions on the Usage of Euphemism
What Is Euphemism? – Meaning and Definition
The term ‘euphemism’ refers to those words or a phrase that can be used to convey something unpleasant, sad or considered taboo. It is the art of communicating something in a less annoying and much lighter tone or in an indirect manner.
Taking a look at how various dictionaries define euphemism can help you understand the term better. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the term ‘euphemism’ is defined as “an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to something embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is”. “A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word” is the definition of euphemism, according to the Cambridge Dictionary.
The Collins Dictionary defines euphemism as “a polite word or expression that is used to refer to things which people may find upsetting or embarrassing to talk about”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, euphemism is defined as “the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant”.
Using Euphemism in Sentences – Points to Remember
Knowing more than one way to communicate any piece of information is always a life-saver. Nobody gets to deal with just positive things all the time. Every now and then, there will be unpleasant events and not-so-great thoughts to be shared. Being able to put even an unpleasant idea in a pleasant and acceptable manner is a skill you should cultivate. Another reason for you to learn euphemisms is that they help you sound concerned about someone or some event that has taken place. One main point you should bear in mind when using euphemisms is that they are not meant to be sarcastic. Furthermore, you should also make it a point to learn and understand what each euphemism means before using it in your conversations.
Examples of Sentences Using Euphemism
Given below are a few examples of sentences using euphemisms. Go through them and try to comprehend how it is used.
- His great-grandfather passed away last week.
- It is so unfortunate that we have to let you go.
- Sandra seems to be between jobs.
- The collateral damage that resulted from the war was saddening.
- We have a differently-abled man working as security.
- We got to know that the family was on the streets, and so we are trying to help them in every way possible.
- Shankar belongs to a well-to-do family.
- The company has been facing negative cash flow for the past few years.
- Devan’s grandmother seems to be enjoying her golden years happily and peacefully.
- Rory was planning to go over to her parents’ house to break the news of the bun in the oven.
List of Most Commonly Used Euphemisms for Everyday Communication
Here is a table with the most common euphemisms, along with their meanings, that are used in day-to-day conversations for your reference. Check it out.
| Euphemism | Meaning | Euphemism | Meaning |
| Well-to-do | Rich | Well-off | Rich |
| On the streets | Homeless | Between jobs | Unemployed |
| Bun in the oven | Pregnant | Negative cash flow | Having debts |
| Golden years | Old age | Differently-abled | Not possessing normal physical, mental and psychological abilities |
| Let one go | To fire someone | Big-boned | Fat or large |
| Curvy | Fat | Well-fed | Overweight |
| Pre-owned | Used by someone else | Lay off | To fire someone |
| Hearing-impaired | Used to refer to someone who is completely or partially deaf | Speech-impaired | Used to refer to someone who has speech-related issues |
| Telling stories | Refers to the act of lying | Tell tales | Refers to the act of gossiping or speaking about another person’s actions. |
| Lose your lunch | Vomit | Pass away | To die |
| Collateral damage | Refers to the damage done as a result of war, including deaths and injuries | Not the sharpest pencil in the box | Refer to the quality of being stupid |
| Lost one’s marbles | To refer to someone who is diagnosed/suffering from mental illness | Physically challenged | Used to refer to someone who is handicapped |
| Mentally challenged | Used to refer to someone who is partially or completely mentally abnormal | Over the hill | Used to refer to someone who is old |
| Armed intervention | Refers to a military attack | Lost someone | Used to refer to someone’s death |
| Put to sleep | Euthanise/Refers to the act of mercy killing | A bit under the weather | Used to imply that someone is sick |
| Couch potato | Used to refer to someone who is lazy | Late bloomer | Used to refer to someone who takes time to understand and learn |
| Running a little behind | To refer to being late | Outspoken | Used to refer to someone who is bossy and controlling |
| Overzealous | To refer to someone who is aggressive | Donning the fedora | Stepping out of one’s comfort zone as far as fashion is concerned |
| Adult beverages | Used to refer to liquor | Underprivileged | To refer to people who are poor |
| High-rolling | Used to refer to someone who spends money lavishly and thoughtlessly / a spendthrift | Down-and-out | Used to refer to a person who is completely out of money, has no job or a place to stay |
| A little thin on top | Used to refer to someone who is bald or going bald | To be in the bread lines | Used to refer to people who are so poor that they have to depend on food donations to survive |
| Whips and jungles | Refers to nervousness and depression | A bit down in the dumps | Used to refer to the state of being unhappy or depressed |
| To get off the deep end | Used to refer to an emotional outburst, mostly due to anger, resulting in extremely strange behaviour | Blow a fuse | Used to refer to the action of losing one’s temper |
| To blow a gasket | To become very angry | Visually impaired | Used to refer to someone who is partially or completely blind |
Frequently Asked Questions on the Usage of Euphemism
What is the meaning of the term ‘euphemism’?
The term ‘euphemism’ refers to those words or a phrase that can be used to convey something unpleasant, sad or considered taboo. It is the art of communicating something in a less annoying and much lighter tone or in an indirect manner.
What is the definition of euphemism?
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the term ‘euphemism’ is defined as “an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to something embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is”. “A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word” is the definition of euphemism, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The Collins Dictionary defines euphemism as “a polite word or expression that is used to refer to things which people may find upsetting or embarrassing to talk about”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, euphemism is defined as “the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant”.
Why should we use euphemisms?
Euphemism is mainly used to make something look or sound less complicated or unpleasant than it actually is. It can be used to make your audience feel that you are genuinely concerned about the matter being discussed.
Give some examples of sentences using euphemisms.
Here are some sentence examples to show you how euphemisms can be used.
- We have a differently-abled man working as security.
- We got to know that the family was on the streets, and so we are trying to help them in every way possible.
- Shankar belongs to a well-to-do family.
- The company has been facing negative cash flow for the past few years.
- Devan’s grandmother seems to be enjoying her golden years happily and peacefully.
- Rory was planning to go over to her parents’ house to break the news of the bun in the oven.
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