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Metaphor and politeness

 

Techniques > Use of language > Metaphor > Metaphor and politeness

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

 

Description

When you want to mention the unmentionable in polite company, seek a metaphor that will not offend. For your convenience, many such metaphors already exist.

Unmentionable areas for which metaphors exist include:

  • Expulsion of bodily fluids
  • Nakedness and sex
  • Drunkenness and other states where a person may disobey social rules
  • Death

Example

Nakedness: In the pink, in birthday suit, in the buff
Defecating: powdering ones nose, going to the loo, paying a visit, going for a jimmy/pony, having a tinkle, pointing percy at the porcelain
Drunk: Blotto, tipsy, merry, three sheets to the wind
Death: passed away, gone to sleep, gone over to the other side
 

Discussion

There is a problem in 'polite company' in that bodily function, sexual acts and the like are considered distasteful, and medical terminology is considered as offensive as some of the cruder slang that is used.

Note also that when crudeness is used, it is often done with the unstated purpose of covering up the speaker's embarrassment. Thus a group of young men may offend bystanders, but their real intent is to compensate for the discomfort that they actually feel.

A metaphor or saying used to avoid mentioning the real thing is called a euphemism.

See also

 

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed