A euphemism /ˈjuːfəmɪzəm/ is an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to something embarrassing (1) or unpleasant (2), sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is. It can soften our language when we’re talking about certain topics. For example:

1. Where can I powder my nose? (Instead of “Where is the toilet?”)
2. His company let him go a month ago. (Instead of “He was fired a month ago.”)

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common English euphemisms and see how to use them in everyday conversation.

The topics where euphemisms can be particularly useful generally include bodily functions, termination and unemployment, dying and death, aging, illness and disability, poverty, sex, criminal activity, conflict and war, as well as weight and appearance.

See some of the most prominent examples for each topic in the table below.

Topic	Euphemism	Meaning	Example
Bodily functions	1) to powder one’s nose (old-fashioned; used by women)  2) to let go a silent one 3) comfort break 4) number one (used especially by children or when speaking to children) 5) number two (used especially by children or when speaking to children) 6) to break wind 7) nature calls 8) to relieve oneself	1) to go to the restroom 2) pass gas quietly 3) short break to use the restroom 4) urination 5) bowel movement 6) to pass gas 7) = I need to go to the restroom 8) to use the restroom	1) Excuse me, I need to powder my nose before dinner. 2) He tried to let go a silent one during the meeting, but it didn’t go unnoticed. 3) Let’s take a comfort break before we continue with the presentation. 4) I’ll be right back; I need to take a quick number one. 5) After breakfast, my toddler usually needs to do his number two. 6) He tried to break wind discreetly during the movie. 7) Sorry, I have to step out; nature calls. 8) He excused himself to relieve himself during the long car ride.
Termination and unemployment	1) to let someone go 2) redundant 3) to be between jobs 4) to seek new opportunities 5) to pursue other interests 6) to downsize	1) to dismiss or fire someone from their job 2) (of a person) without a job because there is no more work available for you in a company 3) to be unemployed or looking for a new job 4) to look for new job prospects 5) to explore different activities or career paths, often after leaving a job 6) to reduce the number of employees in a company, often to cut costs	1) The company had to let several employees go due to budget cuts. 2) He was made redundant from his job. 3) He’s been between jobs for a few months. 4) He is currently seeking new opportunities. 5) Is John still working here? – He is not, he’s pursuing other interests. 6) The organization plans to downsize to improve efficiency and reduce expenses.
Dying and death	1) to pass away 2) to be no longer with us 3) to be gone to a better place 4) to be at rest 5) to be gone to heaven 6) to leave this world	to die	1) Her grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep. 2) He was a great friend, but sadly, he is no longer with us. 3) She believes her father is gone to a better place now. 4) After a long battle with illness, he is finally at rest. 5) She often says her mother is gone to heaven and watching over her. 6) He left this world surrounded by family and friends.
Aging	1) to be over the hill (often humorous) 2) to be mature/weathered 3) senior citizen 4) golden years 5) to be advanced in years	1) to be past the peak of one’s abilities or youth 2) a respectful way to describe someone who is older, emphasizing their wisdom and life experiences 3) an older adult, typically over the age of 65 4) the later years of life, often viewed as a time for relaxation and enjoyment after retirement 5) to be old	1) At 50, he jokes that he’s over the hill but still feels young at heart. 2) Her weathered face tells the story of a life full of adventures and challenges. He is a man of mature years. 3) Many senior citizens enjoy participating in community activities. 4) They’re looking forward to traveling during their golden years. 5) Although she is advanced in years, she remains very active and vibrant.
Illness and disability	1) special needs 2) to be physically challenged 3) to be visually impaired 4) to be hearing impaired 5) to be battling an illness	1) the particular things needed by or provided to help people who have an illness or condition that makes it difficult for them to do the things that other people do 2) to have a physical disability 3) to be blind 4) to be deaf 5) to be actively fighting against a disease or health condition	1) The school has programs designed for children with special needs. 2) He is physically challenged but participates in adaptive sports. 3) She is visually impaired and uses a guide dog for assistance. 4) The community offers resources for those who are hearing impaired. 5) She is battling an illness but remains positive and strong.
Poverty	1) to be financially challenged 2) to be economically disadvantaged 3) to be unprivileged 4) to be struggling financially 5) to experience economic hardship 6) modest means	1) to be poor 2) to be poor 3) to lack advantages or benefits that others may have 4) to be poor 5) to be poor 6) a limited or average level of income or wealth	1) Many families are financially challenged and need assistance with basic needs. 2) The program is designed to support economically disadvantaged students. 3) She works with unprivileged communities to improve their living conditions. 4) After losing his job, he has been struggling financially. 5) Many families are experiencing economic hardship due to rising living costs. 6) They live within modest means but are happy with their simple lifestyle.
Sex	1) to be with someone 2) to be intimate with someone (formal/law) 3) to get it on (esp. American English; slang) 4) to hook up (slang) 5) to make love 6) to have an affair 7) intimacy (formal/law) 8) physical relations	1-6) to have sex 7-8) sex	1) Have you ever been with a man? 2) The two individuals have been intimate for almost a year. 3) They were really into each other and decided to get it on. 4) They hooked up at the party last weekend. (Note that to hook up can also mean “start a romantic relationship” (not just a sexual one).) 5) They often make love to express their deep feelings for each other. 6) They are having an affair. 7) Is there intimacy between the two? (
Criminal activity	1) misappropriation (formal) 2) to be caught with one’s hand in the cookie jar (informal) 3) to bend/stretch the rules 4) questionable practices 5) ethical breaches	1) the act of taking somebody else’s money or property for yourself, especially when they have trusted you to take care of it 2) to be discovered when doing something that is illegal or dishonest 3) to change the rules to suit a particular person or situation 4) actions or methods that raise doubts about their legality or ethics 5) violations of moral principles or standards in professional conduct	1) The accountant was charged with misappropriation of company funds. 2) He was caught with his hand in the cookie jar when they discovered the missing money. 3) Couldn’t they just bend the rules and let us in without a ticket? 4) The company was investigated for its questionable practices regarding employee treatment. 5) The board took immediate action after discovering several ethical breaches in the organization.
Conflict and war	1) hostilities 2) civil unrest 3) military campaign 4) collateral damage	1) acts of warfare or aggression between parties 2) a situation in which a group of people express their dissatisfaction through protests or violence 3) a series of coordinated military operations aimed at achieving a specific goal 4) innocent people being killed	1) The hostilities resumed after the ceasefire was broken. 2) The country experienced civil unrest following the controversial election results. 3) The military campaign was designed to weaken the enemy’s defenses. 4) The government denied that there had been any collateral damage during the bombing raid.
Weight and appearance	1) full-figured 2) big-boned 3) vertically challenged (humorous) 4) in need of some nourishment 5) on the thin side	1) having a rounded and curvy body shape 2) with a larger frame or bone structure 3) short 4) underweight or not eating enough 5) slightly underweight or slender	1) The dress really complements her full-figured silhouette. 2) He’s big-boned, so he carries his weight differently than others. 3) Being vertically challenged has its perks! 4) After her illness, she was definitely in need of some nourishment to regain her strength. 5) He’s always been on the thin side, but he has a healthy appetite.

Other Notable Examples

1. Economical with the truth = deliberately vague or not fully honest (withholding information; leaving out important facts): When questioned about the incident, he was rather economical with the truth.
2. In need of improvement = requiring enhancement or betterment in some area: The project is in need of improvement before it can be presented to the client.

Rolling With the Times

Note that certain euphemisms naturally fall out of use with changing times. For example, in the past, people often used euphemisms to talk about pregnancy. Fortunately, these days we usually don’t need to use such expressions to refer to pregnancy as something embarrassing or unpleasant. However, in the past, euphemisms like “in a family way,” meaning pregnant, were quite common. “In a delicate condition” is another example.

Softening the Language vs. Avoiding Repetition

Note, though, that we often use idioms and other less direct expressions to avoid repetition. How do you distinguish between a euphemism and an attempt to sound less repetitive? Remember what euphemisms are phrases specifically used to talk about things people find embarrassing or unpleasant. So, “seeking new opportunities,” for example, doesn’t always have to mean something negative, like unemployment. Sometimes the speaker might use the phrase to literally mean a positive thing—seeking new opportunities. Therefore, context is of great importance.