Euphemisms

మనం తెలుగులో కూడా కొన్ని సందర్భాల్లో కటువుగా/ అనాగరికంగా ఉండే పదాల బదులు కొంచెం వినయంగా నాగరికంగా ఉండే పదాలను వాడాల్సి వస్తుంది Eg. ‘అతను పొయ్యాడు’ బదులు అతను మరణించాడు/ కాల ధర్మం చెందాడు/ శివ సాయిజ్యం పొందాడు లాంటివి వాడుతాం. అలాగే ఇంగ్లిష్‌లో కూడా polite పదాల్ని వాడటాన్ని Euphemisms అంటారు.
The term euphemism refers to polite, indirect expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite, or which suggest something unpleasant. Euphemism is an idiomatic expression. euphemism is just an attempt to hide its unpleasantness. For example, 'deceased' is a euphemism that describes the death of a person. Many organizations use the term 'downsizing' for the distressing act of 'firing / removing' its employees. 'Professional foul is just a euphemism for cheating'. In other words, euphemism masks a rude or impolite expression, but conveys the concept clearly but politely. That is underplaying, softening.
It may be in the form of abbreviations, such as O. (body odour), and W.C. (toilet).

• Foreign words may be used to replace an impolite expression, such as faux pas (foolish error).
• Sometimes, they are abstractions, such as before I go (before I die).
• They may also be indirect expressions replacing direct ones that may sound offensive, such as rear-end (one's back side or buttocks), unmentionables (underwear or lingerie).
• He is a little tipsy (drunk).

Soft Word	Harsh Word
boss	Manager, supervisor, director
portly, big boned	over weight
adult beverages	beer, liquor
comfort woman	prostitute
WC, rest room	toilet, loo, bathroom
break wind, flatulence	fart, pass gas
economical with the truth	liar
domestic help	house maid
sanitation person	garbage man
vertically challenged	short
secretary	office help, PA
janitor	sweeper, caretaker
adult entertainment	pornography
special child	slow learner, mentally challenged
in the family way	pregnant
thin on top	bald
ethnic cleansing	genocide
collateral damage	accidental deaths.
non-performing assets	bad debts
economical	cheap
correctional facility	prison
embarking on ajourney of self-discovery	jobless