Questions about harmless rewordings of potentially offensive words or phrases.
0
votes
1answer
47 views
use of phrasal verb “reach out” meaning to contact someone [closed]
This morning when I was writing a note I've got myself in doubt about using the reach out phrasal verb. My intention is to tell a person that I tried to reach him out, but, this is the doubt. What is ...
-2
votes
1answer
130 views
Euphemism for “a person one really detests / hates”?
Is there a word to mean "a person one really detests / hates"?
The word "bastard" may be a good fit, but I'm looking for something though forceful, is not vulgar.
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Would sir like something for the weekend?
"Something for the weekend" is a euphemism heard in barber shops, when the above phrase is used to enquire of a customer whether he would like a packet of condoms. Does anyone know how this phrase ...
3
votes
3answers
357 views
French Letters and condoms
Repartee (inexact quote) from a TV show:
Person A: Now, we're going to be getting some letters from French people.
Person B: It could be worse. You might be getting French letters.
(laughter)
...
7
votes
1answer
202 views
When was “ladyparts” first used to describe the genitalia of a woman?
When was the word ladyparts first used to describe the genitalia of a woman?
I tried to look it up in the British National Corpus but it returned no results.
24
votes
5answers
2k views
Less vulgar synonyms for “circlejerk”
Someone asked in the Math.StackExchange chatroom what a "more refined word for circlejerk" might be. UrbanDictionary defines this (in our desired usage) as:
[...] pompous, self-congratulatory ...
13
votes
9answers
2k views
Euphemism for “There's more than one way to skin a cat”
Growing up in the 80s, I ended up hearing/using this phrase a lot whenever I wanted to express that there was more than one way to do something: "there's more than one way to skin a cat."
I have ...
4
votes
6answers
509 views
Euphemism for “non-useful”
I was just about to tell someone how something "wouldn't really be much useful" if they leave it the way it is — which is like a much more polite version of useless, but I just couldn't find the word. ...
1
vote
1answer
118 views
Can a gunfight happen when only one person has a gun?
Dictionaries (M-W) commonly define a gunfight as an exchange of gunfire.
However, the OED defines a gunfight as "a shooting affray". {paywall link}
Several stories & film describe or depict a ...
6
votes
1answer
597 views
I have questions coming out the yin-yang about yin-yang phrases!
Yin Yang is the Chinese philosophy of Light and Shadow, often signifying the need for balance or that everything exists in balance.
But the (reasonably enjoyable to use) phrase
Up the Ying Yang
...
8
votes
3answers
3k views
Origin of the word “boner”
What is the origin of the word boner? Trying to find the roots for its prevalent usage, especially in North America.
According to a dictionary it means an erect penis.
7
votes
1answer
419 views
A more acceptable word to replace the word “rectum”?
I wrote in a short paragraph describing how a cartoon character, after being eaten up by a shark, swam through the shark's internal body and fled from its rectum. It was meant to be a ...
4
votes
11answers
542 views
Substitute for F*** in emphasizing disbelief, anger, etc
How do I replace F*** while expressing fully my disbelief, anger, etc?
E.g.,
"I think Homer Simpson is incredibly sexy"
My reply "Get out of here! That's f***ing ridiculous."
0
votes
1answer
575 views
Does “absent friends” have definite association with deceased family/friends?
Having gotten married this year and acting as best man for my brother, one of the responsibilities for speeches was a toast "to absent friends".
With some of our family no longer being alive, for us ...
7
votes
4answers
986 views
Is there a word to describe female between 'girl' and 'woman'?
I've been trying to find a word that describes someone that's older than a 'girl' but not yet a 'woman'. It seems the connotation of girl is an immature female that's still growing up. Whereas a woman ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
What does the expression “for crying out loud” mean? [closed]
What does the expression "for crying out loud" mean and where does it come from?
0
votes
2answers
738 views
Cleaner alternative for “sucks”. [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Formal alternative for “suck”
Since the word "sucks" does not have an origin that would make it a good word to use in many contexts, I want to know whether ...
4
votes
0answers
526 views
What is the origin of “bite me”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Meaning and usage of “bite me”
Here’s the dilemma: What body part does the oft-used expression, “Bite me!” refer to?
All the males (man on the street) I’ve ...
5
votes
1answer
252 views
Is there a term for a euphemistic term being used literally?
Is there a term for using a word that's often a euphemism to mean exactly what the word means?
For example, in Terry Pratchett's Discworld, what would the act of using the word "seamstress" to refer ...
6
votes
6answers
494 views
Positive euphemisms for desert?
Looking on thesaurus.com I can find only synonyms for "desert" with negative connotations. Are there any synonyms with positive connotations? Specifically, something that invokes the sense of clean ...
7
votes
2answers
454 views
Is “can't” a euphemism or is it ambiguous?
People often say can't to mean won't. I am not referring to lying, but in cases where it is very clear to the listener that the speaker intends to mean won't. For example: I can't continue in this ...
6
votes
1answer
386 views
Is (or was) the exclamation “Nuts!” crude?
During the Battle of the Bulge, when asked to surrender, US General McAuliffe answered with the single word "Nuts!"
I know that "nuts" can be a crude way to refer to testicles ("He got hit in the ...
3
votes
5answers
580 views
Is 'equivocate' a euphemism for 'lie' or can it not be about lying?
I can almost remember the first time I had ever heard/saw the word 'equivocate', probably in some junior-high vocabulary lesson. Like with many latinate neologisms, at first blush it sounds weak and ...
2
votes
4answers
1k views
Euphemisms for pornography, violence, and hate
My company is creating a website and we want to say that uploading of pornographic, violent, and hateful content is prohibited. Some people at the company think these exact words are too direct, so we ...
5
votes
1answer
184 views
Is “Jack of Christ” a common Britishism for Jesus Christ?
In his poem "If I Were Tickled By the Rub of Love", Dylan Thomas refers to "Jack of Christ"
And what's the rub? Death's feather on the nerve?
Your mouth, my love, the thistle in the kiss?
My Jack of ...
6
votes
3answers
280 views
Professors and Students
When I was learning English back in school (in the nineties), there were pupils and teachers. Now there seem to be students and professors, where a "professor" can be anyone who happens to teach ...
