English Vocabulary for ESL learners
ENGLISH EUPHEMISMS
Euphemisms in English with their meaning.
Euphemisms are words or expressions used to avoid being too blunt or offensive.
They are used to shield people from language that may seem too harsh or be inappropriate for the circumstances.
For example, when people die we often say that they 'have passed away'.
| EUPHEMISM: | SUBSTITUTE FOR: |
| armed intervention | military attack or war |
| adult content | pornography |
| between jobs | unemployed |
| capital punishment | death penalty |
| casualties | people killed or injured |
| collateral damage | unintentional deaths/damage |
| correctional facility | prison |
| developing country | poor country |
| economically disadvantaged; underprivileged | poor |
| economical | cheap |
| economical with the truth | lie; be untruthful |
| family planning | birth control/contraception |
| friendly fire | an attack from your own side |
| go to the bathroom | urinate |
| issue | problem |
| it leaves a lot to be desired | unsatisfactory; bad |
| neutralise/-ize | kill |
| on the streets | homeless |
| pass away | die |
| peace-keeping forces | army |
| pre-owned | used or second-hand |
| put on administrative leave | remove from duty |
| put to sleep (usually an animal) | euthanise/-ize |
| pregnancy termination | abortion |
| sanitation worker | garbage/rubbish collector |
| senior citizen; retiree | old person |
| thin on the top | bald |
| undocumented worker | illegal immigrant |
| vertically challenged | short person |
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.