Subject: Favourite euphemisms
Posted by: satguru
Date: Jun 03 13
Following the most hated ones (I picked humanities as I'm a pedant...), what euphemisms do people you know use which are more interesting or colourful than the real words? My grandma was one of the doyennes, choosing her best for a certain bodily function we all do, including the apparently general but actually very particular 'Have you done something?' (we all knew exactly what she meant) and 'have you let wind?'. Her other variety usually directed at cats in the garden were 'Ivor, the cat's doing its business in the garden' (the reply was the pretty obvious 'well what do you want me to do about it?'). They were of an earlier generation where nice people didn't use rude words, so invented more and more flowery and imaginative ways of saying what we all do naturally. Besides the well known ones many families and individuals used their own, and if we learn a few good ones I'll do all I can to get them more popular.
Posted by: satguru
Date: Jun 03 13
Following the most hated ones (I picked humanities as I'm a pedant...), what euphemisms do people you know use which are more interesting or colourful than the real words? My grandma was one of the doyennes, choosing her best for a certain bodily function we all do, including the apparently general but actually very particular 'Have you done something?' (we all knew exactly what she meant) and 'have you let wind?'. Her other variety usually directed at cats in the garden were 'Ivor, the cat's doing its business in the garden' (the reply was the pretty obvious 'well what do you want me to do about it?'). They were of an earlier generation where nice people didn't use rude words, so invented more and more flowery and imaginative ways of saying what we all do naturally. Besides the well known ones many families and individuals used their own, and if we learn a few good ones I'll do all I can to get them more popular.
11 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
satguru 
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Double posts? Me? My mother's favourite for the same activity were made a smell and my father's done a windy. Lowering the level even more, my friend Ian called something related loose moseys, which I'm sure can be translated directly. They may be nursery type terms but always give me a giggle, my inner child will never grow old. Reply #1. Jun 04 13, 2:42 PM |
peggy-bee
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As a teenager, I loved it when my friend's mom would say to me "I have a bone to pick with you" when she was mad at me but I'd always envision us at the table with some big ol' bone and I'd start laughing and anger her even more. Reply #2. Jun 06 13, 9:11 PM |
| satguru
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Ah, that reminded me of another lot when you mentioned the word pick, often used by parents and teachers who'd ask 'Are you digging for gold?' 'Write me a letter when you get there' 'Pick me a winner' and 'You should stop or your head will cave in' when kids were picking their nose. Hopefully this list can be added to as well. Reply #3. Jun 06 13, 9:33 PM |
blindcat78
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When my sister was a teenageer, she would always to my mom when she didn't what to say anything, talk to the hand because the face ain't talking. I use this one, which I got from my dad when anyone says that they have a headache "give me your foot & I'll step on it". They would always say no then I'd say well then you won't be thinking about your head. Reply #4. Jun 09 13, 12:44 PM |
| satguru
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Air biscuit, shoot a bunny, talking German for one bodily function, dropping the kids off at the pool, visiting my aunt, shaking hands with the unemployed for two more. We will never become old if we don't ever grow up. Reply #5. Jul 01 13, 8:30 PM |
brm50diboll
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That statement is no longer operative. Here is the operative statement.... (Anyone remember Watergate?) Reply #6. Nov 30 13, 10:19 AM |
| satguru
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Ah, politics and sociology, never call a spade a spade when a manual earth removing implement sounds so much better. They are probably the worst offendors of the lot. Reply #7. Dec 20 13, 3:26 PM |
SisterSeagull
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Can I get away with 'bashing the Bishop' and 'choking the chicken'? Reply #8. Dec 20 13, 4:13 PM |
paulmallon
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HA HA "I have to see a man about a horse", and "I need to drain the snake", or the ladies version, "I have to powder my nose" Reply #9. Mar 28 14, 2:00 PM |
Mixamatosis
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"We had to let him go" for "We sacked him". Reply #10. Jul 01 16, 10:08 AM |
| Mixamatosis
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Some of the sayings on here are not euphemisms. It's a euphemism when you hide the harshness of what you are saying behind a softer more "acceptable" seeming expression such as "passed" instead of died and "take him out" instead of "kill him" or "collateral damage" instead of "dead civilians". Reply #11. Jul 01 16, 10:12 AM |
11 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
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