You searched for: “euphemisms”
euphemism (s) (noun), euphemisms (pl)
1. A mild or pleasant word, or phrase, which is used in place of one that might be considered too direct, too harsh, too unpleasant, or too offensive: One example of a euphemism is to use "eliminate" instead of "kill".
2. The use of a word, or phrase, that is more neutral, vague, or indirect to replace a direct, harsh, unpleasant, or an insulting term: Instead of Gordon saying that his wife was just too fat, he used a euphemism mentioning that she just had a lot of “love handles”!
A mild or vague expression instead of one which is considered to be harsh or blunt.
© ALL rights are reserved.

An agreeable description that is substituted for a disagreeable one.
© ALL rights are reserved.

The substitution of a mild statement for one that could suggest something unpleasand.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

This entry is located in the following units: eu- (page 3) -ism, -ismus (page 21) -phemia, -phemic, -phemism, -pheme, -phemy (page 2)
A unit related to: “euphemisms”
Doublespeak, Doubletalk, et cetera
(euphemisms, question-begging, declarifications, and cloudy vagueness sometimes designed to make lies sound truthful)
Word Entries at Get Words: “euphemisms”
euphemism (s), euphemisms
1. A word or expression that some people use when they want to talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing without mentioning the thing; or an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive.
2. A word or phrase that is more neutral, vague, or indirect to replace a direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive term.
3. Nice ways to say bad or vulgar things.
This entry is located in the following unit: euphemisms and additional doubletalk (page 1)
euphemism, euphemisms
The use of a more acceptable or agreeable word or comment instead of one that is considered to be offensive or too blunt and harsh. (3)
This entry is located in the following unit: Word a Day Revisited Index of Cartoons Illustrating the Meanings of Words (page 36)
euphemisms and additional doubletalk
(Greek: eu, "good, well; sounding good" + pheme, "speaking, speech"; mild, agreeable, or roundabout words used in place of coarse, painful, or offensive ones)
Word Entries at Get Words containing the term: “euphemisms”
death euphemisms
  • end of the ball game
  • cash in one's chips
  • jump the last hurdle
  • out of the game
  • pass in one's chips
  • race is run; ran the good race
  • struck out
  • thrown for a loss
  • throw in the sponge
  • trumped
  • is knocked out or KO'd
This entry is located in the following unit: euphemisms and additional doubletalk (page 1)