I'm in the home stretch of the second book of Lev Grossman's Magicians series. Basic premise: imagine that you're a huge fan of the Narnia series, and also a magician at magic college. And then you find out that Narnia is real, and a lot darker than the books led you to believe. That's the most simplistic way of putting it, but you should probably read the series yourself. But the series is told from the point of view of a high school/college-aged boy named Quentin. Clearly, since there is a young adult male protagonist, there are euphemisms sprinkled liberally through the books.
Definition of Euphemism
We use the word “euphemism” pretty liberally in modern conversation, but what does it actually mean?
A euphemism, put plainly, is a gentler or more polite way of phrasing a thought than what might be the most direct and blunt way of phrasing.
For example, saying that a resident of a retirement home is advanced in age is a euphemism for saying that they're old. Enhanced interrogation is what some people call the practice of torture, and doing the no-pants dance is probably my favorite euphemism for sex.
Euphemism in Film and Literature
Euphemisms can also be entertaining in their own right. Everyone who's seen the original Anchorman movie knows about Ron Burgundy's affinity for unusual substitutions for profanity (“Great Odin's raven!” and “Son of a bee sting!” being just a few examples).
A Christmas Story has the famous “Oh fudge” scene, which the narrator then explains was not actually the word he used.
In the Harry Potter series, the words Muggle and Mudblood are unique wizard euphemisms for a human without the ability to perform magic, and a wizard born from two Muggle parents, respectively.
How Writers Can Use Euphemism
Euphemisms can add to your writing by creating new vocabulary for your setting, as J.K. Rowling did in Harry Potter, or by establishing character tics, in the case of Ron Burgundy.
Euphemisms can also help ease your readers into a concept, or can serve as a parallel concept for modern society. If nothing else, you've got the fodder for a short story about thirteen-year-old boys trading awkward euphemisms during gym class.
What's your favorite euphemism?
PRACTICE
Write for fifteen minutes using as many euphemisms as you can. Try to use a variety of euphemism categories as well (profanity, violence, politeness, etc.).
Post your practice in the comments and leave notes for other writers.
Let me recommend a re-read of Harry Potter, or even better, listen to the audiobooks read by fantastic actor Jim Dale. “Muggle” did not seem to me to have either a positive or negative connotation, and was used with warm tones of voice (Arthur Weasley, for example, admiring Muggle ingenuity) and icy ones (Draco Malfoy, sneering at Harry’s aunt and uncle). “Mudblood,” in contrast, is the Wizarding equivalent of the N-word – certainly NOT a euphemism.
I wonder if anyone has any thoughts about this: My favourite poet is E.E. Cummings, and after reading this article, it seems to me that he employs many euphemisms in his poems. Take, for example, “In Just” and “Somewhere I Have Never Travelled” as examples. Would these be considered more metaphorical or are there elements of euphemisms in them? Anyone have any thoughts on this? Agree? Disagree? I’m interested in all points of view 🙂 Thanks!
I’ll have to check those out!
I read “In Just”, and I don’t really know what it means, but in “Somewhere I Have Never Travelled”, it sounds like the object he’s referring to is love. I could be wrong… but then again, poets often write their poems so they can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Good conversation starter!
Eleanor, thank you for mentioning these poems. I looked them up and read them, and really enjoyed ee cummings. I am no poetry expert, yet I feel cummings, and poets in general, do not use euphemism. Poetry uses symbolism, allegory, and metaphor to get at the truth. Euphemism is a side stepping of truth. For instance, cummings says metaphorically, “You open and close me.” If he used euphemism, he’d say, “I enjoy our special friendship.” The exception might be love poems of previous eras, when sex could not be openly discussed in published materials. I am imagining that then a poet would have employed euphemism in referring to a lover.
Euphemisms are pretty sweet sometimes. But the word “euphemism” can also actually be a euphemism. A euphemism is often just another word for “politically correct”. : )
—
When the briefing was over, Shadow saluted to Commander Tower and filed out of the room with Rouge behind him.
He looked at the paper in his hand, skimming over the assignment’s summary. It was a brief security task. He would have custody of the girl, Julia Knight, until it was safe to question her formally.
“Looks like you got the assignment, huh,” a voice said from his left.
Shadow glanced at Kacey Stone. The agent stood leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
“Yeah,” Shadow said, and kept walking.
“Watching a little girl?”
Shadow didn’t break his stride. “Yeah.”
“Seems like the person who got the job should be a little more…qualified.”
Shadow stopped in the hallway. His jaw tightened.
“Why don’t you knock it off, Kacey?” Rouge said, facing the agent with her hands on her hips. “Shadow’s the best agent for the job.” A little smirk played around her mouth. “You’re just jealous, aren’t you, honey?”
“Jealous?” Kacey pushed off the wall and blew out a breath. “Of him?” He held out his hand to indicate Shadow.
“Commander Tower chose me for this assignment because he knows I’ll protect that girl with my life,” Shadow said, turning around. “Do you disagree?”
Kacey glanced at his watch, then shoved his hands into his pockets. “Having custody of a thirteen-year-old girl just doesn’t seem to fit with your…colorful past.”
Shadow’s blood surged to his hands. “If you’re insinuating I’d hurt that girl, then just say it.”
The other agent scowled and closed the distance between he and Shadow. “I saw your record before you came here,” he growled. “It would’ve gone halfway around this building. And yet Commander Tower allows you, a criminal, to carry out assignments like this—”
“I’m not a criminal anymore. And my record never showed I was a rapist or a child abuser, because I’m not,” Shadow said, moving the slightest bit closer. “If I’m wrong, correct me.”
Kacey’s mouth tightened and he turned his back on Shadow, then marched away.
“He’s jealous, all right,” Rouge said as the agent rounded a corner. She glanced at Shadow. “Not because the Commander gave you this assignment, but because you got the promotion this month. Hmph. What a jerk.”
Shadow massaged the bridge of his nose. Thank goodness it was Friday.
—
I’d love comments and/or critique on this. Thanks for the prompt!
Interesting. Lits of under urrents, hints that there’s some serious history here. Would like to read more. Love that name Rouge.
Thank you so much! Rouge and Shadow are actually characters from the Sonic Hedgehog series, and I write fanfiction about them. : )
My favorite euphemism is definitely “there are communists in the funhouse” – an expression used in Denmark to refer to a lady’s time of the month.
Ha ha, there are a lot of good ones for that time. A friend of mine says “Aunt Flo is visiting.” : )
Now that is funny:-)
Liz, my sister of the semi-colon! That is my favorite punctuation mark! It has become the Red-Headed Stepchild of English grammar; one just doesn’t see it in use anymore. My apologies to our red-headed group members; I was simply using a slang term popular in the vernacular. Now about those euphemisms: They come in handy for dancing around a subject no one wants to talk about, or in slightly misleading an audience. Here is my exercise: It is in the form of a business letter.
Mr. Seymour Blood
Consumer Credit Wellness Counselor
FORD* Financial Opportunities, UNLTD.
Dear Mr. Blood:
Thank you for your recent correspondence and unexpected flurry of highly informative phone calls. I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm and personal attention to detail, as we work together to improve the potential of my outstanding Funds Imbalance.
As I previously related to you, in several of our robust and uninhibited confabulations, I have recently been appropriately right-sized from my self-esteem moderating position at WorkHereDiePenniless, Inc.
I project this update to my employment status will have a net effect on my monthly income. In addition, my Quickbooks Monthly Household Augmentation Schedule projects that I will soon be committed to enriching our community medical facility. You may recall that I did provide background information to you, in my direct and powerful speaking style, that I will be engaged in several therapies and procedures to remediate the sycophantic posture I acquired during my tenure at WHDP, Inc.
Due to these current relevancies, I must regretfully decline your gracious offer of monetary arrangements regarding my Free!NoInterestEver!It’sLikeIt’sNotEvenThere! Credit Card Punctual Incentive Program.
Mr. Seymour, please accept my best wishes to you and your firm, that you all enjoy the successes and outcomes you deserve. I’m sure your many astounded clients would join me in saying, “Go forth to stand behind yourself, and put that best little self ahead of yourself, so that you may access the behind of yourself with maximum impact!”
Yours Truly,
Ms. Gay A. Bandon
* FORD (For Our Revenue Duh )
I love these satirical letters! I read another one you did on the prompt about the Californian beach town. It’s definitely a style you’re good at. Would love to see more 🙂
That’s me, sarcasm served daily! Thanks!
Fantastic!
Wow, thank you.
Great post, I never really new the meaning of euphemism before.