Euphemisms

There are words in every language which people instinctively avoid because they consider them impolite, too direct, rude, indelicate, indecent. As the “offensive” referents, for which these words stand, must still be alluded to, they are often described in a round-about way, by using substitutes called “euphemisms ”. This device is dictated by social conventions which are sometimes apt to be over-sensitive, see “indecency” where there is none and seek refinement in absurd avoidance and pretentiousness.

The word lavatory has produced many euphemisms. Here are some of them: toilet room, ladies’ room, restroom, gentlemen’s room, retiring room, washroom, powder room, (public) comfort station, public conveniences, water-closet, w.c., Windsor castle (for water closet).

Pregnancy is another topic for “delicate” references. Here are some of the euphemisms used as substitutes for the adjective “pregnant”: in a interesting condition, in a delicate condition, in the family way, with a baby coming, (big with child), expecting.

The apparently innocent word “ trousers”, not so long ago, had a great number of euphemistic substitutes: unmentionables, inexpressible, indescribable, unwhisperables, you-mustn’t-mention-‘ems, sit-upons. Nowadays nobody seems to regard this word as an “indecent” any more, and these euphemistic substitutes are no longer used.

The love for affectation, which displays itself in the excessive use of euphemisms, has never been a sigh of good taste. Quite the opposite. Fiction writers have often ridiculed pretentious people for their weak attempts to express themselves in a delicate and refined way.

There are words which are easy targets for euphemistic substitutions: words associated with drunkenness, for instance.

The adjective drunk has a great number of such substitutes, some of them “delicate”, but most are comical: intoxicated (formal), under the influence (formal), tipsy, mellow, fresh, high, merry, flustered, overcome, full (coll.), drunk as a lord (coll.), drunk as an owl (coll.), boiled (sl.), fried (sl.), tanked (sl.), tight (sl.), stiff (sl.), pickled (sl.), soaked (sl.), three sheets to the wind (sl.), high as a kite (sl.), half-seas-over (slang).

In Ukrainian: напідпитку, п’яний як чіп; in Russian: пьяный в стельку, лыка не вяжет, море по колено, навеселе, ни в одном глазу.

Euphemisms may be used in a concern not to hurt somebody’s feelings. A liar may be described as the person “ who does not always strictly tell the truth ”; a stupid person may be described as “ not exactly brilliant”.

All the euphemisms that have been described so far are used to avoid the so-called “social taboos”.

Superstitious taboos gave rise to the use of other type of euphemisms. The reluctance to call things by their proper names is also typical of this type of euphemisms, but this time it is based on a deeply-rooted subconscious fear. All words denoting evil spirits, dangerous animals, or the powers of nature were taboo. If uttered it was believed that unspeakable disasters would result not only for the speaker but also for those near to him. That’s why all creatures, objects and phenomena denoting danger were referred to in a round-about descriptive way, e.g.: the black death, the-one-lurking-in-the-wood. In Russian and Ukrainian there are: черная смерть, Михайло Потапович, Лиса Патрикеевна, той, хто в скалі сидить.

Religious taboos include the name of the devil and the God. A number of euphemisms are used as substitutes for them: the black one, the evil one, the Prince of Darkness, Old Nick (col.); Good Lord, Good gracious, by Heaven, Good Heavens, my goodness.

People are reluctant to use the word “ to die”. Instead of it a number of euphemisms are used: to pass away, to be taken, to breathe one’s last, to depart his life, to close one’s eyes, to yield (give up) to the ghost, to go the way of all flesh, to go West (sl.), to kick off (sl.), to check out (sl.), to kick the bucket (sl.), to take a ride (sl.), to hop the twig (sl.), to join the majority (sl.).

In Russian and Ukrainian there are such phrases: отбросить копыта, склеить ласты, дать дуба, отбросить тапки, загнуться, Кондратий схватил (пришел), отойти в мир иной, уйти в небеса, испустить дух, проститься с жизнью, вернуться к праху, уйти в мир теней.

Mental diseases also cause the frequent use of euphemisms. A mad person may be called insane, mentally unstable, unbalanced, unhinged, not quite right (col.), not all there (col.), off one’s head (col.), off one’s rocker (col.), wrong in the upper storey (col.), having bats in one’s belfry (col.), crazy as a bedbug (col.), cuckoo (sl.), nutty (sl.), off one’s nut (sl.), loony (sl.), having rats in the roof (sl.), a mental case (formal), a mental defective.

In Russian and Ukrainian there are such phrases: не сповна розуму, з’їхати з глузду, не всі вдома, крыша поехала, чердак потек, ку-ку, псих.

Euphemisms are the oldest type of synonyms. They are substitutes for their synonyms. Their use and very existence are caused by social conventions or certain psychological factors. Most of them have stylistic connotations that can be singled out in their semantic structures.

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