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So, you are walking all day with a friend, you feel tired, you don't want to say: "I'm tired, let's stop", but say: "Oh dear, we've walked a lot today".

A friend promised to meet you to go for the football match at 9pm. It's 9 and you don't say: "You forgot the match right?", but for example: "Enjoy your dinner".

What's the word to describe these situations? Not sarcasm, because that is in a negative scope. Can we call it "rhetoric"?

Example, if the friend answers: "Oh thanks mate" and he really forgot, you would want to say: "'Enjoy your dinner' was ______".

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  • Kindly refrain from abusing rhetoric in such a manner. It never did anything to you.
    – The Nate
    Feb 27, 2016 at 15:44
  • @TheNate that's why I asked the question in the first place
    – Blue Genie
    Feb 27, 2016 at 23:29
  • I do hope you knew I was joking. It's a perfectly good question, obviously.
    – The Nate
    Feb 28, 2016 at 9:07

3 Answers 3

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Euphemism - a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

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Try diplomatic.

Diplomatic adjective 1.1 Having or showing an ability to deal with people in a sensitive and tactful way - ODO

Here are more words contributed by @TheNate (thanks!):

  • thoughtful, kind - these relate more to the character of the person; and
  • tactful, gracious - these relate more to the choice words and manner of communicating them.
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  • Might want to toss in Tactful, thoughtful, gracious, and/or kind.
    – The Nate
    Feb 27, 2016 at 15:46
  • @TheNate Indeed :) . I particularly like thoughtful and kind as they speak to intent and character. Diplomatic as well as your contributions of tactful and gracious describe the phrase and manner.
    – Lawrence
    Feb 27, 2016 at 16:03
  • Yeah, I tossed this here because you already had the best answer of those posted, imo. Figured expanding on that base would be best for everyone.
    – The Nate
    Feb 28, 2016 at 9:15
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"Imply" may foot the bill.

Indicate the truth or existence of (something) by suggestion rather than explicit reference:
'salesmen who use jargon to imply superior knowledge'

Instead of being negative it suggests inevitability.

Reference:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/imply

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