Questions about harmless rewordings of potentially offensive words or phrases.
Questions about harmless rewordings of potentially offensive words or phrases.
Questions tagged [euphemisms]
128 questions
23
votes
3 answers
Why is the euphemism "comfort women" so heavily used?
Most reporting on women used for sex by the Japanese armed forces during WWII use the euphemism "comfort women", derived from the Japanese word "ianfu", which means "comfort women". Sometimes the euphemism is put in scare quotes, and sometimes the…
Golden Cuy
- 18,154
11
votes
4 answers
Was "Seamstress" used as a euphemism for sex workers in real life?
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series uses "seamstress" as a euphemism for sex worker. Prior to the publication of the series, was it used in real life this way?
It sounds very plausible, but neither Wiktionary nor the Online Etymology Dictionary…
Golden Cuy
- 18,154
7
votes
8 answers
Positive euphemisms for desert?
Looking on thesaurus.com I can find only synonyms for "desert" with negative connotations. Are there any synonyms with positive connotations? Specifically, something that invokes the sense of clean desolation and unspoiled nature.
dotancohen
- 3,011
7
votes
1 answer
Is (or was) the exclamation "Nuts!" crude?
During the Battle of the Bulge, when asked to surrender, US General McAuliffe answered with the single word "Nuts!"
I know that "nuts" can be a crude way to refer to testicles ("He got hit in the nuts by the baseball") but I've always thought of…
Larry OBrien
- 870
4
votes
4 answers
A term for this type of language
For example, you're in a room with three people. You're talking to one person and the other is getting kind of stupid or is doing something that you find dumb.
To insult them without them catching on to what you actually mean, you come up with a…
rigor
- 41
3
votes
5 answers
What is a euphemism for enforcer?
As in a bad guy, thug, hatchet man, etc. who "persuades" people to pay. I'm trying to think of something overly professional and comedic.
Any ideas?
bernk
- 202
2
votes
4 answers
What does "play the trumpet" mean?
In a recent Academia SE question, user moonman239 writes:
What is proper etiquette for college students needing to leave the lecture room for any reason?
Example: Bathroom breaks, an urgent phone call, or a need to "play the trumpet" (if you know…
O. R. Mapper
- 184
1
vote
0 answers
What do you call a word that substitutes an obscene word?
A word that is milder than another is a euphemism, but what is a generic word that is used in good manners and polite speech instead of the proper specific term, like 'bottom' instead of 'ass'?
user157860
- 233
0
votes
1 answer
What is a more professional way of saying, I want to make it up to you?
A dissatisfied customer is leaving negative reviews. I want to write back and let him know we want to make it up to him, however that doesn't sound very professional.
Jennifer
- 1
0
votes
1 answer
Euphemism for selfish
I am looking for a euphemism for "selfish" or "selfishness" (want to express it in writing in a workplace context to describe the specific behaviour of some colleagues, but I find selfish too direct)
senseiwu
- 687
- 2
- 9
- 21
0
votes
2 answers
Is "ethnic cleansing" an inappropriate euphemism if mass murder isn't involved?
I have heard about "ethnic cleansing" as an inappropriate euphemism. Is it only inappropriate when it's referring to mass killing, or is it also inappropriate when talking about the forced expulsion of ethnic groups from an area?
For example, can I…
Golden Cuy
- 18,154
0
votes
4 answers
Euphemism for fundamental conflict between two things?
Is there a euphemism for, within a given scenario, the fundamental conflict between two things? Almost akin to 'double-edged sword'. But that would not be right. I can clarify more. Open to any thoughts.
rob-gordon
- 135
- 1
- 1
- 5