Bottom Lines

The Webster’s Universal English Dictionary defines Euphemism as a mild or inoffensive word substituted for a more unpleasant or offensive term; or the use of such inoffensive words.

The use of euphemism seemed to be the trend nowadays as we read them in the newspapers, magazines and even as we watch movies, we do find these terms. Here are some few of the lines I gathered while watching movies and what it may seemed to mean for me:
“We’ve  got company” – may mean “somebody’s watching us” or “our enemies are close”…

“We got a situation” – which may mean “We’re in a kind of a problem” or may simply mean “we’re in deep shit”…

“You’re very helpful” – one way of saying “It’s a waste talking to you” or “You’re not helping me at all” or “you’re wasting my time” or “you’ve got to be kidding”

“He’s just leaving, show him out” – may mean “he pisses me off, throw him out” or “I’m through with him, show him the door”

In school or in offices, we often hear terms such as:

“Differently- abled – used to refer physically disabled people

“Greenhouse Effect” – definitely, the global warming or melting of the polar caps

“Chairperson”– instead of chairman or chairwoman, either is a gender issue

“Slander by deed” – legal term which literally means a slap on the face

“Country-wide development fund”– lawmakers fondly call their pork barrel funds

“Indigenous people” – refers to the native inhabitants or cultural minorities

“You have the gift of time” or “wow, you’re chronologically gifted” – meaning, you’re already old

“Internally displaced persons” – refers to evacuees

“Externally displaced persons” – formerly, refugees

“toy soldiers” – combatants who are minors

“Vertically challenged “– other term for short people or not considered tall at all

“you have more face to wash than hair to comb ” – meaning, bald or hairless

“Exotic nose” – may refer to a “flat nose”

“Exotic beauty” – black beauty or may mean Asian beauties

The list is endless. Thousand of euphemisms are being coined daily showing that people had evolved out from barbaric languages to a more cultured conversations. We hear them every day and seemed not so big deal nowadays because they are more of a general rule rather than the exception. It’s a skill for speakers to make use of these terms to avoid offensive reactions or simply as a toned down sarcasm .

The golden rule still applies through the ages, “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you”. So, we may say by analogy that “don’t speak unto others like you don’t want others speak unto you”. Uh, well, as near as that, so it seems… Lol

Bottom line is, we got options now to say things in a manner that we don’t get the receiver’s ire. We can now be very diplomatic that instead of saying “ceasefire”, we can say “peace talk” or “cessation of hostilities”. Euphemism, to me, is some sort of a“damage control”?