100 Popular Euphemisms in English Language

Euphemism is a generally inoffensive or polite expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant or embarrassing. Sometimes euphemisms are intended to amuse others but at times they can be used to make indirect and snarky remarks. For example, for the word “idiot” we can use “dumb as a door knob” or “he is cute but isn’t that bright.” Possibly there is no other word in English for which there are more euphemisms than for the word “death.” When someone dies, instead of saying “he expired” we say “he passed away” “he passed on” or “he finally met his maker.” Or he is in a better place now, he’s gone on to his heavenly abode or the doctor might say that “the patient breathed his last breath, he is no more.”

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Common Euphemisms in English 

  • Deaf, or hard of hearing               Aurally Challenged
  • Fat                                                Horizontally challenged
  • Short                                             Vertically challenged
  • Stupid                                           Intellectually challenged
  • Mentally ill                                     Mentally challenged
  • Someone with disability                 Differently abled
  • Totally deaf                                    Hearing impaired
  • Blind                                              Visually impaired

 

  • Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
  • Butt Burp instead of fart
  • A Little Thin On Top – it refers to baldness
  • Batting for the other side – means being gay or homosexual
  • Categorical Inaccuracy instead of calling someone liar
  • Come out of the closet – to tell people that you are gay
  • Relocation center instead of prison camp
  • Correctional facility instead of prison
  • Letting someone go instead of firing someone
  • On the streets instead of homeless
  • Do your business – to defecate
  • Economical with the truth instead of liar
  • Between jobs instead of unemployed
  • Lost his marbles instead of suffer from mental illness
  • Over the hill used for describing someone who is old
  • Squeeze the lemon instead to go to washroom
  • Spend the penny instead to go to washroom
  • Donning the fedora means stepping out of your fashion comfort zone
  • Cloning the mammoth means making futile and risky efforts
  • Hiring a Russian means looking to someone else to immediately solve the pesky problem
  • Sharing a blintz means sharing a mutually meaningful and enjoyable activity
  • Staying on the tractor means enjoying your retired life
  • Hand over the coals means to wait for longer period before complaining about the problem
  • Joining the Vikings means Making one last push in your career
  • In the club (Pregnant)
  • Bun in the oven (Pregnant)
  • Fallen off the back of a lorry (Stolen)
  • Lose your lunch (Vomit)
  • Tired and over emotional (Drunk)
  • Bruce isn’t broke, he is having temporary negative cash flow.
  • Rajeev isn’t buying a used car, he is purchasing a pre-owned or pre-loved vehicle.
  • Wasim’s supervisor laid him off because he was unmotivated.

 

Euphemisms for “death”

  • Angels carried him away
  • Bit the dust
  • Breathed his last
  • Called to Our Lord
  • Cashed in his chips
  • Climbed the stairway to heaven
  • Debt we all must pay
  • Deceased
  • Deep Six
  • Departed
  • Entered eternal rest
  • Faded away
  • Flatlined
  • Fragged (this term is popular with video gamers)
  • His number was up
  • He is in a better place
  • He is no more
  • Kicked the bucket
  • Laid down his life
  • He met an untimely end
  • He met his maker
  • Passed away
  • Pass on
  • He is resting in peace
  • Succumbed to his injuries
  • Turn to dust
  • Went to the Happy Hunting Grounds
  • Wearing a toe tag

 

Interesting Euphemisms for “Idiot”

  • A beer short of a six pack
  • A brick short of a load
  • A few sandwiches short of a picnic
  • All brawn and no brains
  • Dumb as a door knob
  • Dumb as a stump
  • Dumber than a bag of rocks
  • Dumber than a box of hair
  • Elevator don’t quiet make the top floor
  • He’s got a leak in his think-tank
  • Isn’t firing on all thrusters
  • Infinite space between his ears
  • Informationally deprived
  • Intellectually challenged
  • Landing on one engine
  • Left hand threaded
  • Lights not burning too bright
  • Not the sharpest pencil in the box
  • Not the sharpest tool in the shed
  • One turbine short of an airplane
  • Running about a quart low
  • Running on empty
  • Sharp as a bowling ball
  • Silly sausage
  • Strong like bear, smart like tractor
  • The lights are on, but nobody is home.
  • The wheel’s spinning, but the hamster’s dead
  • Too dumb to pull his head in before he shuts the window
  • Too many yards between the goal posts

 

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