You might think that learning euphemism figure of speech is just another part of learning English. However, they play an even bigger role in real-life situations. Euphemism help us navigate social interactions, avoid offending, and communicate with greater nuance. They not only make your language more politically correct but also allow you to express empathy and adjust your tone depending on your audience and context. In the blog below, we will explain what euphemisms are, provide you with a list of euphemistic words, and exercises so that you understand better!
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The definition of euphemism figure of speech, as per Cambridge, is “a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word”. Whereas, Merriam Webster defines euphemism as “the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.”
In simple terms, the euphemism meaning boils down to the idea or a thought of replacing certain words to avoid causing any offence or to delicately discuss or deal with a sensitive topic.
For example, we use “He passed away" instead of "He died” to replace or soften the harshness of the word “died”.
Euphemism is mainly used for topics that are generally considered harsh and taboo. This figure of speech is also being used to amuse. For example, “He has a memory like a sieve.” Here, instead of saying he has a bad memory, we used the word “sieve” to make it a little amusing.
There are some euphemism figure of speech examples that you might have come across in your day-to-day life. Below is a list of the top 10 euphemism examples, along with their meaning and how you can use them in a sentence.
1. Passed Away/Bit the Dust/Put to Sleep/Gone to a Better Place: This is a software way of saying that someone died. For example, "Her grandmother passed away last night."
2. Let Go/Restructuring/ Downsizing: This is a polite and gentler way of saying fired/firing/layoffs. For example, "Unfortunately, I was let go from my job today."
3. Senior Citizen: This is more of a respectful way of referring to an older person. For example, "The park offers discounts for senior citizens."
4. Between Jobs/Seeking New Opportunities: We use thiseuphemism for saying someone is employed. For example, "He’s currently between jobs but is looking for new opportunities."
5. Rest Room/Powder Room: The euphemism meaning of these words might seem to be for some type of room. But this is used for a bathroom or a toilet. For example, "Excuse me, where’s the restroom?"
6. Visually Impaired: This is a euphemism generally used for someone who is either blind or has poor vision. For example, "He is visually impaired, so he uses a cane to get around."
7. Under the Weather/ Feeling a Bit Off: This is most commonly used for feeling sick. For example, “I'm feeling a bit under the weather, so I think I'll stay home.”
8. Economical with the Truth/ Fibbing/ White Lying: We use such euphemism in a sentence to soften the impact of accusing someone of lying. For example, "He was a little economical with the truth during his interview."
9. Economically Disadvantaged/ Low-Income: This is a respectful way to refer to someone with low income. These euphemism examples can be used in sentences instead of "poor families” or someone is poor.
10. Pre-Owned: We use this Euphemism for things that are used and are not being used by someone else. For example, "I bought a pre-owned car."
As we already explained above, we use euphemism as a figure of speech to soften the harsh realities with the help of indirect language. However, we can also use them in various sentence structures. Some of these different ways to use euphemism in a sentence include:
The most common use of euphemism figure of speech is in replacing the direct terms. Some terms can be harsh to the ears or may not be appropriate for a particular setting.
A popular literary work that replaces direct terms is George Orwell's 1984. For example, "He had been vaporised." Here, Orwell used "vaporised" for being secretly executed and erased from all records and memory.
Another use of the figure of speech euphemism is to describe negative situations with positive language. A popular example of this is Julius Caesar’s "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him."
Here, "Bury Caesar" is a euphemism he uses to acknowledge and deal with his assassination of Caesar, which was brutal and political.
There again various euphemism figure of speech examples in popular works which have been used to talk about taboo subjects.
In many cultures, talking about death directly is considered taboo, instead, people often say, "He passed away in his sleep, peacefully, after a long battle with his health."
Now that you understand the use of euphemism figure of speech, let's check out some of the most commonly used euphemistic words that you can also use in your everyday communication and improve your English language proficiency.
| Euphemism | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Powder my nose | Use the restroom (usually used by women) |
| Between the ears | Refers to someone's intelligence or thinking ability |
| Economically inactive | Unemployed or not working (used in official reports) |
| Take early retirement | Forced to quit a job (often in layoffs) |
| Socially selective | Someone who avoids people or is antisocial |
| Comfort food | Food eaten to improve mood, often unhealthy |
| Creative differences | Disagreements (especially in business or entertainment) |
| Ethically flexible | Willing to bend moral rules |
| Senior moment | A moment of forgetfulness (usually by older adults) |
| Temporarily inconvenienced | Lost power, water, or access to service |
| Career transition | Looking for a new job or recently unemployed |
| Selectively honest | Someone who lies or omits the truth |
| Passed his prime | No longer at peak performance or ability |
| Helped himself to it | Stole something |
| Taking some personal time | Taking leave or mental health break |
| Nature break | Going to the bathroom (used humorously in offices) |
| Internal matter | A company or group issue kept confidential |
| Had a little work done | Underwent cosmetic surgery |
| Negotiating with the porcelain gods | Vomiting (humorous, often used after drinking) |
| Went in a different direction | Fired or demoted (especially in corporate settings) |
Now let’s test your understanding of figure of speech euphemism with a worksheet. In this exercise below, you will have to identify the euphemism in each sentence and explain what it means in plain language.
1. After 30 years of service, Mr. Sharma was let go due to company restructuring.
2. My aunt says she’s in her golden years and loving retirement.
3. Please excuse me, I need to powder my nose.
4. They had to put the dog to sleep after it fell seriously ill.
5. I’m currently between jobs but actively looking.
6. The comedian said his hairline is just a little thin on top.
7. We offer discounts for senior citizens.
8. He was financially embarrassed, so he skipped the vacation.
9. The country claimed it was conducting an armed intervention to maintain peace.
10. She said she and her boyfriend are now seeing each other.
Answers & Explanations:
1. Let go- Euphemism for fired or dismissed from a job.
2. Golden years - Euphemism for old age or retirement.
3. Powder my nose - Euphemism for going to the restroom (used humorously or politely).
4. Put the dog to sleep - Euphemism for euthanising the pet (mercy killing).
5. Between jobs - Euphemism for unemployed.
6. A little thin on top - Euphemism for balding or losing hair.
7. Senior citizens- Euphemism for elderly people.
8. Financially embarrassed - Euphemism for broke or low on money.
9. Armed intervention - Euphemism for military attack.
10. Seeing each other - Euphemism for dating or being in a romantic relationship.
In conclusion, euphemism figure of speech that is an important part of daily communication in English, as it offers a way to not just express difficult or unpleasant ideas. But it also helps in softening the impact of sensitive topics. In our Blog above, we talked about euphemism meaning and gave you a list of euphemistic words along with a worksheet to test your understanding.
However, if you are still confused about its uses or are finding it difficult to navigate figures of speech, then you can connect with our experts at Gradding.com. They will provide you with structured instruction, examples, and exercises for a better understanding.
1. What is a Euphemism?
A euphemism is a figure of speech where a mild, indirect, or polite expression is used to replace a more direct, harsh, or offensive one. It's typically used to soften difficult, unpleasant, or sensitive topics.
2. What are 5 Examples of Euphemism?
5 of the most common examples of euphemism, which replace more direct or harsh terms with softer ones, are:
3. Is a Euphemism a Metaphor?
No, euphemism is not the same as a metaphor. However, they are both a part of different figures of speech. A metaphor makes a comparison between two unlike things (e.g., "Time is money"), whereas a euphemism is about using milder language to replace harsher or uncomfortable terms (e.g., "passed away" for "died").
4. What is the Difference Between Euphemism and Periphrasis?
The main difference between euphemism and periphrasis is that while both euphemism and periphrasis involve using indirect language, the main difference lies in their purpose and structure:
A euphemism is used to soften or downplay something negative, whereas a periphrasis involves using more words or a roundabout way to express an idea.
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