Euphemism Examples
This is a list of about fifty common euphemisms. For each euphemism you'll find a definition, example sentences, notes and a quick quiz question.adult
pornographic, or related to sex
between jobs
unemployed, or without a job
bottom
buttocks
capital punishment
the death penalty
casualties
victims, or people killed or injured in wars and accidents
challenged
more limited mentally or physically than most people
comfort stop
a short break on a journey to allow travellers to go to the toilet
creative differences
problems among musicians, dancers, writers, actors, etc. that make it difficult or impossible for them to work together
dating
regularly having sex
deceased
dead
dismiss
to fire someone from their job
euthanize
to kill an unwanted animal
expecting
to be pregnant
explicit
showing or describing sexual acts
family jewels
testicles
family planning
often used as a euphemism for birth control or using contraceptives
full-figured
(esp. of a woman) fat, overweight or obese
getting on
old or elderly
go to the bathroom
to urinate and/or defecate, esp. in a toilet
in the family way
pregnant
issues
emotional problems
late
used instead of "dead" or "deceased" when mentioning a dead person
lay off
to fire a worker
let go
to fire a worker
loss of life
many deaths
make love
to have sex
manhood
the male sex organs
marital aid
a sex aid or sex toy
merry
drunk
nature calls
needing to urinate or defecate
number one
urine, or liquid waste from the body
number two
faeces, or solid waste from the body
on the game
to be working as a prostitute
pass away
to die
pass wind
to release gas from the anus or the "bottom"
person of interest
a criminal suspect
pre-owned
used or second-hand
private parts
a person's sex organs or "genitals"
put down
to kill an animal, esp. one of no commercial value
put to sleep
to kill an animal, esp. a sick, injured or very old pet
relieve oneself
to go to the toilet, esp. to urinate
restroom
a public toilet
sanitary pad
a menstrual pad
sanitation worker
garbage or rubbish collector
seeing (sb)
to be in a sexual relationship
senior citizen
an old person
sleep with sb
to have sex with somebody
sweetener
a bribe
terminated
murdered
termination
abortion
that time of the month
menstruation
the big C
cancer
the facts of life
information about sex and sexual reproduction
wardrobe malfunction
a problem with clothing that allows breasts, buttocks or genitals to be seen
working girl
a female prostitute