UNDERWEAR or UNDERFASHIONS?

‘Euphemism’ means a mild or indirect word or expression which is used to refer to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Perhaps many of you often use the phrase ‘pass away’ to mean ‘die’, as in ‘Her mother passed away last night’. ‘Washroom’ is another familiar euphemism for ‘latrine’. Another popular euphemism is ‘senior citizens’ which stands for ‘old men and women’.

By using such expressions as pass away, washroom and senior citizens, an unpleasant or embarrassing idea can be successfully conveyed.

When you say ‘the Prime Minister passed away’, that expression has a certain degree of respect. Likewise, when you ask someone, ‘Excuse me, can I use your washroom’, you can bypass the embarrassment of the more direct word ‘latrine' or 'lavatory’. Take another example: haven’t you noticed how happy and proud the old people feel when they hear someone refers to them as ‘senior citizens’?

Here is a list of some popular euphemisms:

The underprivileged = the poor.

[eg The government’s new scheme for the underprivileged.]

Underfashions (undergarments) = underwear.

[Excuse me, where is the underfashions section in this mall?]

Pre-owned vehicle = a used car.

[I am planning to buy a pre-owned vehicle.]

Social disease = sexually transmitted disease.

[AIDS is a social disease.]

Hair stylist = barber.

[Tom’s father is a hair stylist.]

Sleep with = have sex with.

[She left her husband for ever after seeing him sleeping with the girl next door.]