Calling a spade a shovel: euphemisms

Q. What-isms

A. Euphemisms, from the Greek euphemos, meaning 'auspicious' or 'sounding good'. The dictionary definition of a euphemism is 'an agreeable or inoffensive word or expression substituted for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant'.

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Q. Such as

A. 'He passed away' as opposed to 'he died'. In fact death is one of the greatest�springboards for linguistic gymnastics - for obvious reasons, really. So we have, for example - and with due respect to the Monty Python 'Parrot Sketch' - 'he's left this vale of tears', 'he's gone to meet his Maker' or 'he's gone to a better place'.

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Q. What other subjects cause us to euphemise

A. We all do it, probably without even realising it, constantly -�particularly when we're in the company of people we don't know well. And never more so when talking about bodily functions and sex. So we go to 'the little boys' room', 'powder our noses', catch 'social diseases', 'are in the family way', employ the services of 'ladies of the night' and so on.

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Euphemisms are not to be confused with slangy or colloquial phrases for such things, which are often subversive versions of a euphemism, and are intended to amuse or even - in complete contrast to the whole concept of the euphemism - to shock.

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Q. So, what else

A. 'Politically correct' language has spawned its own vocabulary of verbal evasion. Although done with the best of intentions, speaking of 'vertically, visually, aurally challenged people in a non-gender-specific way without reference to ethic origin or anything else that might prejudice the listener or reader against the subject' can be very difficult to get right. However, we've all pretty much got used to saying 'chair' for chairman or chairwoman, so it can be done.

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The other great area for euphemism is swearing. What to say - should you need that added emphasis - in front of children or parents or anyone else who might take offence has given rise to a whole catalogue of words and phrases which sound just enough like the real one to be recognised but which are, in themselves, inoffensive. Also, in the days before it was acceptable to swear routinely on TV, in films or on the page it was the only way past the censor.

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Here are a few examples:

blooming

janey mack (an Irish way of getting around blasphemy)

gordon bennet

cripes

crumbs

christmas

gosh

golly

flipping

flaming

beggar

rack (as featured in�the classic Australian prison soap Prisoner: Cell Block H,�whose sensitive�inmates�constantly tell each other to 'rack off')

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Q. What's a euphemism for euphemism, then

A. Trope, the metaphorical use of a word, or circumlocution, speaking around a subject without ever quite directly addressing it, are about as close as it gets.

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For that 'Parrot Sketch' in full, go to http://www.pythonet.org/pet-shop.html

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For more on Phrases & Sayings click here

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by Simon Smith