 Military Attack - armed intervention,
Euphemism Examples
To make an unpleasant word or expression sound
politically and morally right and look less
offensive, euphemism was invented. This figure of
speech can be best defined as coded words or
phrases, which we use to express ourselves when
caught in an awkward situation, without sounding
uncivil or being downright vague. Euphemism is
one figure of speech that camouflages direct,
unfriendly or disagreeable expressions with more
pleasant and ethically correct words or phrases.
The word euphemism originated from the Greek
word "euphemia" meaning "the use of words of
good omen." They are deemed as secret means or
spies on a delicate task, which easily go in the
tense environment without making the situation
worse. Euphemisms have become a significant part
of our everyday conversation as it helps us tackle
any offensive situation diplomatically. Scan the list
of examples of euphemism given below in the
article that will help you master the art of landing
an 'iron fist in a velvet glove' without appearing
uncouth.
Examples Of Euphemism
Examples Of Euphemism Used To Amplify Or
Exaggerate
 Secretary - executive assistant, personal
assistant
 School - academy, conservatory
 Boss - manager, supervisor, director
 Garbage Collector - sanitation worker,
waste disposal worker
 Janitor - caretaker, custodian, warden
Euphemisms To Speak Politely And
Courteously
 Fat - chubby, full-figured, plump,
voluptuous, overweight, big boned
 Remedial - special needs, developmental
 Poor - underprivileged, unable to make
ends meet, modest, financially embarrassed
 Handicapped - physically challenged,
disables, differently abled, crippled
 Homeless - displaced, dispossessed, adrift
collateral damage
 Bathroom - be excused, restroom, public
conveniences
 Unemployed - between the jobs
 Vomit - blow chunks, lose your lunch
 Pregnant - bun in oven, in the club, in the
family way
 Bankrupt - in reduced circumstances
 Blush - color up
 Lying - economical with the truth
 Lover - gentleman friend
 Illegitimate - the wrong side of the blanket
 Drunk - tired and over-emotional
 Short-sighted - visually challenged
 Arguments - full and frank discussion, have
words with someone
 Junk mail - direct mail
 Wiretapping and bugging - electronic
surveillance
 Eliminating people from racial or national
backgrounds - ethnic cleansing
 Penalty - disincentive
 Defecate - do your business
 Intercourse - hankie pankie
 Sick - indisposed
 Theft - inventory leakage
 Trailer park - mobile community
 Salesperson - personal representative
 Prostitute oneself - turn a trick
 Making sex - making whoopee
 Stolen - fallen off the back of a lorry
 Prostitute - lady of the night, escort service
 Be sterile - shoot blanks
 Genital - private organs
 Taxes - revenue enhancement
 Used or second hand - pre-owned
 Abortion - pregnancy termination
 Prison - correction facility
 With large sexual organs - well-endowed,
well-hung
 Rebels - freedom fighters
 Bad stinking breath - halitosis
 Masturbation - one off the wrist, spanking
the monkey
 Wrinkles - character lines
 Brothel - house of ill repute
 Adult entertainment - pornography
 Homosexual - batting for the other side
 Sexual reproduction - the birds and the bees
 Urinate - spend a penny
  Feces - night soil
 Have sex for money - turn a trick
 The urge to urinate - the call of nature
 Fire employees - furlough employees
 A couple engaged in sex - The beast with
two backs
 Gambling - gaming
 Cannabis - pot
 Offer sex - your place or mine?
 Lame, crippled, disabled, handicapped,
physically challenged - differently abled
 Refusal of offer of sex -not tonight
Josephine
 Taking something apart to see how it works
and then copying it - reverse engineering
 Small people - restricted growth
 Sue - take legal action
 Prison Camp - relocation center
 Ban - downsize
 Lodger - paying guest
 Be promiscuous - sleep around
 Brief sex - wham bam and thank you
ma'am
 Slaughterhouse - abattoir
 Maid - domestic engineer
 Homeless - on the streets
 Slow Internet Speed - shaped
 Sick - under the weather
 Lazy - unmotivated
 For a retirement home - assisted living
facility
 Drink - imbibe
 Stolen merchandise - it fell off the back of
a truck
Euphemisms For Death
Asleep with Jesus, bite the dust, cement shoes,
bills of mortality, called home, deceased, feeling
no pain, cross over to the other side, go to one's
last home, go to the last roundup, on the heavenly
shores, run down the curtain, peg out, breathe one's
last, give up the ghost, sprouted wings and taking a
dirt nap.
Funny Euphemisms For Death
Meet your marker, six feet under, popped his
clogs, snuff it, kick the bucket and pushing up
daisies.
Euphemisms For Modern Communication
 Trying something new and different from
your fashion comfort zone - donning the
fedora.
 To quietly search out the reason for a
disturbance - peering over the cube.
 Looking to someone else to immediately
and mysteriously solve a problem - hiring a
Russian.
 Pulling on shirt buttons to test for solid
construction - tugging the buttons.
 Laying any kind of exotic groundwork -
wetting the sugar.
Other Examples Of Euphemism
 Politicians don't commit crimes, they 'make
mistakes.'
 People don't fart, they 'pass wind.'
 Married men don't commit adultery, they
'cheat.'
Conclusion
Euphemisms are usually employed to avoid saying
anything controversial or indiscreet and can be
really witty and out-and-out comical at times.
From classic literature to movies and from
boardrooms to drawing rooms, euphemisms are
extensively used everywhere when talking about
sex, violence, or any other topics that is deemed as
taboo or inappropriate in the civil society. What's
more, euphemisms can make your dialogues more
poetic, add certain amount of sophistication to
them and make them sound more proper and right.
Euphemisms are an easy way to express oneself in
a nice way without hurting or shocking anyone.
Hope this extensive list of examples on euphemism
will help you master the skill of polite conversation
better and make you appear more couth.
Types of Euphemisms
To Soften an Expression
Some euphemisms are used in order to make a
blunt or unpleasant truth seem less harsh.
Examples of euphemisms that fall into this
category include:
 Passed away instead of died
 Correctional facility instead of jail
 Departed instead of died
 Differently-abled instead of handicapped or
disabled
 Fell off the back of a truck instead of stolen
 Ethnic cleansing instead of genocide
 Turn a trick instead of engage in
prostitution
 Negative patient outcome instead of dead
 Relocation center instead of prison camp
 Collateral damage instead of accidental
deaths
 Letting someone go instead of firing
someone
 Put to sleep instead of euthanize
 Pregnancy termination instead of abortion
 On the streets instead of homeless
To Be Polite
Other euphemisms are used to take the place of
words or phrases you might not want to say in
polite company.
Examples of euphemisms that fall into this
category include:
 Adult entertainment instead of pornography
 Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
 Au natural instead of naked
 Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight
 Portly instead of heavy or overweight
 Chronologically-challenged instead of late
 Comfort woman instead of prostitute
 Use the rest room instead of go to the
bathroom
 Break wind instead of pass gas
 Economical with the truth instead of liar
 Powder your nose instead of use the rest
room
 The birds and the bees instead of sex
 Between jobs instead of unemployed
 Go all the way instead of have sex
 Domestic engineer instead of maid
 Sanitation engineer instead of garbage man
 Vertically-challenged instead of short
 Sleep together instead of have sex
Euphemisms to be Impolite
In some cases, euphemisms are intentionally a
grosser or less pleasant way of saying something.
These are usually used when people are being
sarcastic or trying to make light of a serious
subject or make it seem less serious.
Examples include:
 Batting for the other side instead of
homosexual
 Bit the big one instead of died
 Bit the farm instead of died
 Cement shoes instead of dead
 Bit the dust instead of died
 Croaked instead of dead
 Kick the bucket instead of die
 Blow chunks instead of vomited
 Hide the sausage instead of sex
 Making whoopee instead of sex
 Well-hung instead of having a large penis