What is Euphemism?
An indirect way to express something considered inappropriate.
Examples
- “Put to sleep” or “put down” rather than “kill” or “euthanize”
- “Downsizing” rather than “moving to smaller quarters”
- “In a better place” or “passed away” for “died”
- “Economically disadvantaged” for “poor”
- “Lady of the evening” for “prostitute”
- “Negative cash flow” for “broke”
- “Between jobs” for “unemployed”
- “Casualties” for “people killed”
- “Collateral damage” for “innocent people dying”
- “Friendly Fire” for “killing people on your own side of a conflict”