Commonly Used Euphemisms In English Language

by Dr. Shanthi Thomas

A euphemism is a polite and inoffensive expression used to replace one that could be considered embarrassing, vulgar, unpleasant or offensive. The English language employs many euphemisms to avoid embarrassment and unpleasantness in communication. Read on to find the most commonly used euphemisms in the English language.

1. Euphemisms for ‘death’

Death, the inevitable reality of life, is a difficult topic to discuss, especially at a personal level. Therefore, ‘being dead’ is very often couched in many euphemisms such as

deceased
bit the dust
entered eternal life
passed away
laid down his life
called to our Lord
breathed his last
met his maker
kick the bucket

2. Euphemisms for disabilities

Disabilities such as blindness or deafness are considered too impolite to be directly remarked upon. Therefore such disabilities are expressed using euphemisms such as

Aurally challenged (somewhat deaf)
Hearing impaired (totally deaf)
Visually impaired (blind)
Differently abled (someone with any kind of disability)
mentally challenged (mentally ill)
intellectually challenged (stupid)
vertically challenged (short)
horizontally challenged (fat)
big-boned (fat)

3. Euphemisms for the embarrassing facts of life

These are euphemisms for facts of life that everyone knows and goes through but would be too embarrassed to talk about directly, such as

Butt burp (fart)
Break wind (fart)
a little thin on top (baldness)
do your business (defecate)
lost his marbles (suffered from mental illness)
squeeze the lemon (go to the washroom)
lose your lunch (vomit)
brown trousers (defecate because of fear)

4. Euphemisms for ‘idiot’

No one wants to be referred to as an idiot. Therefore, many interesting euphemisms have taken the place of this offensive word.

Lights not burning too bright
A brick short of a load
Dumb as a door knob
Not the sharpest pencil in the box
Got a leak in his think tank
A beer short of a six pack
A few sandwiches short of a picnic
Informationally deprived

5. Euphemisms for the misfortunes of life

Many misfortunes might befall a human life, and one may not want to talk about them directly.

between jobs (unemployed)
on the streets (homeless)
made redundant (lost his job)
let you go (fire you)
be on gardening leave (be unemployed)

6. Euphemisms for ‘war’

War and other conflicts are very unpleasant and destructive. It is no wonder that many of the aspects of war are referred to using euphemisms. Generally you find these words in newspaper reports of war.

Collateral damage (When an attack causes large scale loss of lives of innocent people and damages hospitals, schools etc.)
Armed intervention (military attack)
Extraordinary rendition (army takes a person away without going through the legal channels)
Friendly fire (army kills people on its own side accidentally)
Acceptable loss (minor destruction in war)
Enhanced interrogation techniques (torture)
Forced disappearance (abduction)
Tactical retreat (accepting defeat with your head high)
Make the ultimate sacrifice (Lose your life, especially in war)