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Euphemism Polite Term Things Ju:Fəmiz(ə)M N.[语法]委婉的说法 Pardon Substituted

英语单词 euphemism
英美音标 ['ju:fəmiz(ə)m]
中文释义 n.[语法]委婉的说法
vocabulary简明 Pardon me, but when a polite term is substituted for a blunt, offensive one, you should call it a euphemism.
vocabulary扩展 Euphemism is from Greek euphemismos, meaning "good speech," and it's a way that we paper over uncomfortable things with more pleasant-sounding words. These days we tend to use euphemisms when talking about anything having to do with elimination of bodily waste: toilet, bathroom, and water closet were all originally euphemisms. The military is also notorious for using euphemisms, like saying "neutralizing the target" instead of "killing someone."
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柯林斯解释
1
[N-COUNT 可数名词]委婉语;委婉说法 A euphemism is a polite word or expression that is used to refer to things which people may find upsetting or embarrassing to talk about, for example sex, the human body, or death.
  [oft N for n]
  • The term 'early retirement' is nearly always a euphemism for redundancy nowadays.

    现在“提前退休”几乎就是裁员的委婉说法。

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