phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

The Phrase Finder
Phrases, Sayings and Idioms Home > Discussion Forum

- We are also on

A Phrase A Week - Facebook Group & Follow aphraseaweek on Twitter

Euphemisms revisited

Posted by DH on October 30, 2004

I am interested in euphemisms devised specifically to alter our way of thinking; eg, thanks to ESC:

The Gulf War of 1990-91 produced its own spate of euphemisms: 'collateral damage' (civilian casualties resulting from bombing military targets).
This makes the 100,000 innocent-civilian deaths in Iran, perfectly acceptable

Organized gambling used to be bad because it destroyed lives, and those running it went to prison. However, calling it 'gaming' makes it all right, and especially if our collective subconscious guilt is pushed off onto the "savages" and the State gets a cut

Other euphemisms of this sort are sought--thanks, all