Euphemism
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| - | '''Euphemism''' is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of [[doublespeak]], to make it less troublesome for the speaker. | + | '''Euphemism''' is the [[substitution]] of an [[agreeable]] or [[inoffensive]] expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of [[doublespeak]], to make it less troublesome for the speaker. |
| - | == See also == | + | ===Sexual euphemisms=== |
| - | + | :''[[sexual euphemisms]]'' | |
| - | *[[Sexual euphemisms]] | + | |
| *[["It" as a euphemism for sexual intercourse]] | *[["It" as a euphemism for sexual intercourse]] | ||
| *[[Carnal knowledge]] for [[intercourse]] | *[[Carnal knowledge]] for [[intercourse]] | ||
| *[[Sex worker]] for [[prostitute]] | *[[Sex worker]] for [[prostitute]] | ||
| - | ===Sexual euphemisms=== | ||
| - | :''[[It as a euphemism for sexual intercourse]]'' | ||
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| - | The Latin term ''[[pudendum]]'' and the Greek term ''αιδοίον'' (''[[aidoion]]'') for the genitals literally mean "[[shameful]] thing". ''[[Groin]],'' ''[[crotch]],'' and ''[[loins]]'' refer to a larger region of the body, but are euphemistic when used to refer to the [[genitals]]. The word ''masturbate'' is derived from Latin, the word ''manus'' meaning hand and the word ''sturbare'' meaning to defile. In [[pornographic]] stories, the words ''rosebud'' and ''starfish'' are often used as euphemisms for ''[[anus]],'' generally in the context of [[anal sex]]. | ||
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| - | ''[[Sexual intercourse#In humans|Sexual intercourse]]'' was once a euphemism derived from the more general term ''intercourse'' by itself, which simply meant "meeting" but now is normally used as a synonym for the longer phrase, thus making the town of [[Intercourse, Pennsylvania]], a subject of jokes in modern usage. | ||
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| - | The "[[baseball metaphors for sex]]" are perhaps the most famous and widely-used set of polite euphemisms for sex and relationship behavior in the U.S. The metaphors encompass terms like "hitting it off" for a good start to relationship, "Striking out" for being unlucky with a [[love interest]], and "running the bases" for progressing sexually in a relationship. The "bases" themselves, from first to third, stand for various levels of sexual activity from [[Tongue kiss|French kissing]] to "petting", itself a euphemism for manual genital stimulation, all of which is short of "scoring" or "coming home", sexual intercourse. "Hitting a home run" describes sex during the first date, "batting both ways" (also "switch-hitting") or "batting for the other team" describes [[bisexuality]] or [[homosexuality]] respectively, and "stealing bases" refers to initiating new levels of sexual contact without invitation. Baseball-related euphemisms also abound for the "equipment"; "Bat and balls" are a common reference to the [[Sex organ|male genitalia]], while "glove" or "mitt" can refer to the female anatomy. | ||
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| - | There are many euphemisms for [[birth control]] devices, sometimes even propagated by the manufacturers: Condoms are known as "rubbers", "sheaths", "love gloves", "diving suits", "raincoats", "Johnnies" (in Ireland and to a lesser degree Britain) etc. The [[Combined oral contraceptive pill|birth control pill]] is known simply as "The Pill", and other methods of birth control are also given generalized euphemisms like "The Patch", "The Sponge", "Shots", etc. There are also many euphemisms for menstruation, such as "having the painters in", being "on the rag", "flying the flag" (originally a euphemism for hanging out the bedsheet after a wedding night as a testament to the woman's virginity), or it simply being "that time of the month", Munster playing at home (Irish). | ||
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| - | Euphemisms are also common in reference to [[sexual orientation]]s and lifestyles. For example in the movie "[[Closer (film)|Closer]]" the character played by [[Jude Law]] uses the euphemism "He valued his privacy" for being gay. | ||
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| - | As an aside, the use of euphemisms for sexual activity has grown under the pressure of recent rulings by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] regarding what constitutes "decent" on-air [[broadcast]] speech. The [[FCC]] included many well known euphemisms in its lists of banned terms but indicated that even new and unknown coinages might be considered indecent once it became clear what they referenced. George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say On TV" evolved into the "Incomplete List of Impolite Words", available in text and audio form, and contains hundreds of euphemisms and dysphemisms to genitalia, the act of having sex, various forms of sex, sexual orientations, etc. that have all become too pejorative for polite conversation, including such notables as "getting your pole varnished" and "eating the tuna taco". Carlin also did a bit on the uses of the word "fuck", originally only a dysphemism for the sex act but becoming an adverb, adjective, noun, etc. This "diversity" is also mentioned on in the movie [[The Boondock Saints]] after the main characters commit a [[mass murder]] of bosses followed by a violent joke on a friend who is in the Mafia. | ||
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Revision as of 20:54, 10 April 2010
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Euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker.
Sexual euphemisms
- "It" as a euphemism for sexual intercourse
- Carnal knowledge for intercourse
- Sex worker for prostitute
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