# Euphemisms I hate **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 6, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612 "2013-05-06T13:52:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/61 "2013-05-07T01:20:51Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Just wanted to echo your sentiments that obese =/= curvy. Someone recently started a thread in another forum (IMHO, I think?) asking for advice on where to buy classy clothes for a curvy figure. Turns out the woman was big. > \ > I’m all for wording things kindly as long as it’s still being honest. But when you begin to confuse the actual meanings of word to suit your self-image, that’s where it gets to be uncool. Yeah, that thread bothered me more than it should have. Mainly because of this. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/62 "2013-05-07T01:28:35Z")
I pretty much hate all euphemisms, because I can’t keep up with what they all mean. Which gets really embarrassing when it turns out I’ve said something I didn’t mean to say! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/63 "2013-05-07T01:29:58Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Just wanted to echo your sentiments that obese =/= curvy. Someone recently started a thread in another forum (IMHO, I think?) asking for advice on where to buy classy clothes for a curvy figure. Turns out the woman was big. > > If a woman said she was having trouble finding clothes because she was so curvy, I would assume she’s either (a) having trouble finding tops that fit properly in the shoulders, chest, and stomach; or (b) having trouble finding bottoms that fit properly in the butt, hips, and waist. A curvy woman will often find that shirts that fit properly in the bust billow around the stomach, or ones that fit well in the hips are too big around the waist. > > If you’re having trouble finding classy plus-size clothes, that’s an entirely different problem. Hi, I am that woman. Yes, I may be “big”, but I am also “curvy.” As I did not specify what I was specifically having trouble finding, and we have never met, I’ll assume you realize that I may have had both problems. 😉 And, oh, by the way, I didn’t see your suggestion. 😕 Since you were reading the thread I assume you, too, are either curvy or big and can help (on the correct thread please, leave this one for the euphemism). ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/64 "2013-05-07T01:37:43Z")
…Back on topic, Don’t ever call me **fluffy**. I am not a cat. Also, I heard on the news last week that a shooting victim had **expired** upon arrival at the hospital. No, he didn’t. Maybe a 95-year old man sitting in his chair at the nursing home wears out all his organs and expires, but a 19-year old shooting victim? Not expired. Dead. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/65 "2013-05-07T01:43:11Z")
> [@tenacious\_j](#): > > Also, I heard on the news last week that a shooting victim had **expired** upon arrival at the hospital. No, he didn’t. Maybe a 95-year old man sitting in his chair at the nursing home wears out all his organs and expires, but a 19-year old shooting victim? Not expired. Dead. Mm, this one I gotta nitpick a bit. “Expire” when applied to people doesn’t necessarily mean “to die of natural causes, to wear out in the ordinary course of nature”, in the sense of “reaching one’s expiration date”. Rather, it just means literally “to breathe one’s last”, to die, for whatever reason. It doesn’t imply natural death as opposed to any other kind. Everybody expires. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/66 "2013-05-07T01:44:52Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Mm, this one I gotta nitpick a bit. “Expire” when applied to people doesn’t necessarily mean “to die of natural causes, to wear out in the ordinary course of nature”, in the sense of “reaching one’s expiration date”. > > Rather, it just means literally “to breathe one’s last”, to die, for whatever reason. It doesn’t imply natural death as opposed to any other kind. Everybody expires. yabut it still drives me nuts. They use it on the TV news around here all the time. They refuse to use the D-word for some reason; always a euphemism. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/67 "2013-05-07T12:00:58Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Euphemisms are a way of making something tolerable by giving it a name that masks what it IS. > > 1. Obese =/= “curvy” > > I realize that these days, 10 is considered a plus size… Ironically, “plus size” is one that makes me go :dubious:. With regard to deaths, I’ve seen this euphemism with increased frequency lately (typically printed on a funeral ‘program’): > [@](#): > > Sunrise: 1942 > Sunset: 2013 _Really?_ mmm ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/68 "2013-05-07T13:30:45Z")
I’m quite happy with plus size, that’s my preferred term. And I’m both fat and curvy! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/69 "2013-05-07T13:50:03Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > The death euphemisms are annoying too, but at least there’s not really any lying involved and no one is really fooled… Little children are, though. I’ve seen several who were scared to go to sleep, because Grandpa went to sleep and didn’t wake up. In one memorable case, someone told a kindergarten classmate of my nephew’s that particular euphemism, scaring her shitless - the rest of the class explained it and were terribly angry about the lies of grown-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/70 "2013-05-07T14:32:38Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > I am probably too idealistic about this, and I don’t do online dating myself, but ISTM that if you [generic obese-person-composing-dating-site-profile “you”, that is] are looking for somebody who isn’t primarily concerned with physical appearance, you don’t need to say anything about your physical appearance at all. > > If, on the other hand, you are looking for somebody who doesn’t find a big or fat body type unattractive, you need have no qualms about saying that you’re “big” or “fat”. > > If what you’re looking for is somebody who might be interested in you only as long as they don’t realize you’re obese, I think you’re ultimately doomed to disappointment no matter what euphemism you use to describe your physical appearance. I don’t understand the point of listing a body type at all, for anyone. That’s what pictures are for. Why encourage people to either choose between various terms like curvy, plus-sized, or heavy if they’re fat, or on the opposite end have them choosing between terms like athletic, trim, or whatever else that may be equally deceiving? Sure, like every guy, I have certain general body types that I prefer, but there are some women I’ve met that don’t quite fit that description that I find attractive. I suppose having some kind of description works if you don’t have a photo, but is it really THAT hard to get a picture? Ultimately, it’s one of the most important things one needs to do for internet dating. When I was doing internet dating, I’d pretty much expect anyone with more than about a couple pictures to have a full body shot, not even so much to see her body type, but because I wanted to see her in a picture other than a posed head shot. And, chances are, if someone has several shots, and they’re all from weird angles or nothing below the shoulders, like it or not, it’s going to give the impression of shame or a lack of confidence in one’s appearance. So, yeah, IMO the euphemisms for body type are just completely unnecessary these days. > [@Nava](#): > > Little children are, though. I’ve seen several who were scared to go to sleep, because Grandpa went to sleep and didn’t wake up. In one memorable case, someone told a kindergarten classmate of my nephew’s that particular euphemism, scaring her shitless - the rest of the class explained it and were terribly angry about the lies of grown-ups. Fair enough, though I’d never use that one. I think “sleep” can work poetically but as a euphemism for death, particularly to children, it fails miserably. I’d never use it to children precisely because it’s a comparison to something that everyone does every day and I can definitely see it freaking a kid out. Really, I was more thinking along the lines of “pass away”. I still dislike it, but I don’t think anyone is really fooled by that usage, it’s just a way to avoid using “die”. And, though I don’t have kids, I’d like to think that if I did, I’d just use “die” anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/71 "2013-05-07T15:45:01Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > If you think ‘passed’ is bad, try ‘passed over the rainbow bridge’. > > Yes, I have heard people use it seriously. They should just say what they mean: “My pet died and went to Asgard.” > [@EmilyG](#): > > I remember my college English teacher, and what he said about this. We were analyzing a poem. A student in the class said something about someone ‘‘sleeping with’’ someone else. The teacher said ‘’ ‘Sleeping with?’ Let’s not use euphemisms. Who’s fucking who?‘’ 😉 As the person is an English teacher, I’d hope for “Who’s fucking whom?” ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/72 "2013-05-07T16:27:25Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I remember my college English teacher, and what he said about this. We were analyzing a poem. A student in the class said something about someone ‘‘sleeping with’’ someone else. The teacher said ‘’ ‘Sleeping with?’ Let’s not use euphemisms. Who’s fucking who?‘’ 😉 But it was poetry–poems are supposed to be literal? ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/73 "2013-05-07T19:33:15Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > As the person is an English teacher, I’d hope for “Who’s fucking whom?” Damn- two posts too late. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/74 "2013-05-07T20:08:53Z")
> [@Uther\_Penguin](#): > > I really dislike “go to the bathroom” when it is not about a real bathroom. “I just went to the bathroom behind those bushes” is stupid. Why do people call public restrooms a “bathroom” when there is not a bath in it?😕 > [@RickJay](#): > > For my part, the euphemism I dislike most is the newish term “passed” for “died.” I could accept “passed away” for someone who died in their sleep. When I read an obit that says _“So & so passed away in a motorcycle accident”_ it makes me gag. They didn’t pass away, they were killed! It’s not a euphemism, but I think it’s weird when I read an obituary that says _“So & so passed away after a courageous battle with cancer”._ What did they do, put on armor and joust a windmill? What’s so courageous about getting medical treatment for what ails you? Okay, I suppose it is more courageous than the obit that says \*“So & so passed away into the loving arms of Jeebus after deciding not to fight his perpetual hang nails”. \* He didn’t pass away, he blew his fucking head off! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/75 "2013-05-07T20:15:35Z")
What about “bath tissue” instead of “toilet paper”? It used to be bath **ROOM** tissue which was bad enough, but \*bath \*tissue? I mean, you don’t take a bath with it, as it would dissolve and leave you covered with little bits of fluff. (Which, I suppose, would then make you “fluffy”…) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/76 "2013-05-07T20:17:09Z")
“Passed” for “died” has been around for decades. I’m pretty sure it started with African-Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/77 "2013-05-07T20:20:31Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > “Passed” for “died” has been around for decades. I’m pretty sure it started with African-Americans. I see what you did there? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/78 "2013-05-07T20:21:21Z")
I don’t. Could you show me, please? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/79 "2013-05-07T20:23:04Z")
The NFL’s “Organized Team Activities”, or OTA’s. That’s _practice_. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612/80 "2013-05-07T20:32:19Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I don’t. Could you show me, please? Some people think that the term “African-American” is unnecessary and overlong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euphemisms-i-hate/657612.md?page=5)