# Words that sound dirty, but really aren't **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958 "2001-10-02T12:12:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![\_Uigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/e9a140/32.png) [@\_Uigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Uigi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/41 "2001-10-03T01:35:13Z")
usufruct ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/42 "2001-10-03T01:44:19Z")
\*\* A KOONA MA TA TA\*\* (forgive spelling) That saying they had on “The Lion King” always souded like they were say something to the effect of: **Kiss my ass!** ---
**Author:** ![blackmonday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@blackmonday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackmonday)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/43 "2001-10-03T02:26:22Z")
For those looking for ideas, there’s more in this thread.(Gotta love the Search!) \*\*[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=24947](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=24947) Do you know phrases that sound dirty but have no dirty words ? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/44 "2001-10-03T02:34:13Z")
Physics terms: Degenerate Perturbation Theory Stimulated Emission Spontaneous Emission Radiometric units: nits, phots, lux ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/45 "2001-10-03T02:59:12Z")
sextuplets chitlins discretion ---
**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:** [October 3, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/46 "2001-10-03T05:14:41Z")
I remember the weight lifting unit in my 8th grade gym class. The entire class burst out laughing when the teacher said he was going to demonstrate these moves: \*The Snatch \*A Clit \*The Clean & Jerk ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/47 "2001-10-03T10:17:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\*I can’t believe no one has mentioned **cumquat** \*\* Oh man. Does **Gary Kumquat** know what you’ve done to his SN (at least in my eyes)? ---
**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/48 "2001-10-03T10:29:49Z")
Working on construction sites and doing our own home repairs has provided some: **Caulk** - with variations like caulkgun, and my personal favorite, _caulk remover_. **Toolbox** - this has always sounded like a graphic description of the usefulness of the female equipment. **Screwgun** - when installing drywall or plywood, there is always call to say “You hold it up and I’ll screw” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/49 "2001-10-03T10:33:14Z")
Uranus ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/50 "2001-10-03T10:35:29Z")
Middlesex ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/51 "2001-10-03T13:12:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\*I can’t believe no one has mentioned **cumquat** \*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by saudade_ > **Damn, I was going to put kumquat too** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by AudreyK_ > **Does Gary Kumquat know what you’ve done to his SN (at least in my eyes)?** I just wanted to point out that according to the Oxford English Dictionary, either spelling is acceptable. The “c” variation is quite common and seemed appropriate here. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/52 "2001-10-03T17:59:04Z")
Maybe Uranus got left out because these days they’re pronouncing it UR-uh-nuhs instead of the old mainstay from grade school, uhr-A-nuhs. he he. No one ever believes me about this he he. but the original Trivial Pursuit had a question; “Does Uranus have an aura?” he he. Anyone remember this? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/53 "2001-10-03T20:47:01Z")
**horehound** **Gotterdammerung** ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/54 "2001-10-03T21:49:02Z")
**petcock** - the thing you use to switch your motorcycle over from the main fuel tank to the auxiliary. ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/55 "2001-10-03T23:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scredle \* > \*\*Maybe Uranus got left out because these days they’re > pronouncing it UR-uh-nuhs instead of the old mainstay > from grade school, uhr-A-nuhs. > \*\* As if a planet that is piss-soaked is less dirty than one that’s your netherest orifice. \*\* > [@](#): > > No one ever believes me about this > he he. > but the original Trivial Pursuit had a question; > “Does Uranus have an aura?” > he he. > Anyone remember this? \*\* I was a pretty vicious Trivial Pursuer, and I don’t remember this. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/56 "2001-10-04T01:30:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\*I just wanted to point out that according to the Oxford English Dictionary, either spelling is acceptable. The “c” variation is quite common and seemed appropriate here. \*\* Ah. Didn’t know that. Apologies to you, **Beeblebrox**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/57 "2001-10-04T04:26:52Z")
I like to tell people I suffer from **melomania** and watch the look of pitty (or fear) in their eyes. ---
**Author:** ![stochastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@stochastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stochastic)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/58 "2001-10-04T04:28:11Z")
If you’ve been to Washington state, then you may be familiar with the towns of Tillicum and Humptulips… ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/59 "2001-10-04T11:38:33Z")
[with flicking eyebrows and suggestive tone] …Shoe …Megaphone …Grunties …Wankel Rotary Engine [/with flicking eyebrows and suggestive tone] ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958/60 "2001-10-04T11:50:47Z")
What really brings out the sniggering schoolboy in me is ‘sending a probe to Uranus’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-sound-dirty-but-really-arent/84958.md?page=4)