words of the week: euphemisms

[keryx]

Inspired by seeing the words "cuddly" and "fluffy" in use a lot this week (notably in one of the Big Fat Carnival posts - new one's up, by the way), I bring you another word of the week theme: euphemisms.

Got any favorites?

Comments

[mermeydele.livejournal.com]

to go along with the fat theme - rubenesque is one of my faves!

[steamedwords.livejournal.com]

my fave= either "broad minded," or its slightly more cosmopolitan twin, "open minded;" used by various aquaintances and family friends. As far as I can tell, what it really means is "somewhat less bigoted than what is typical."

Example, a quote from one of my mom's assistants:

"She likes that movie, Rent....and you know, you had to be real broad-minded to enjoy that movie."

[cutegaychick.livejournal.com]

umfriend! I think I got it from NPR. It's a significant other, because there is no good, appropriate, easy-to-use, adult word for significant other. So umfriend it is!
As in "and this is my ... um ... friend, cutegaychick"

[arovd.livejournal.com]

willie the one-eyed wonder worm

[revolution724.livejournal.com]

I thought an umfriend was the person of the same gender you're dating/fucking, but don't quite want to say so because you're in the closet/talking to somebody to whom you're not out.

[peregrin8.livejournal.com]

my favorite is "Excuse me, I have to go to the euphemism."

no, wait, my favorite is marital aid [snicker]!

[cutegaychick.livejournal.com]

The definition I heard - and the way I use it - was a romantic/sex/dating partner of any gender or persuasion. Because "lover" is too much information, "significant other" is unwieldy, "partner" sounds like you've got a business deal, "friend" doesn't do it justice and after you've hit a certain age, "boyfriend" just sounds silly.

But as a REALLY out poly lesbian, I use it for a different reason. I've got five regular sex partners. One is my wife, one is my girlfriend, one is my girl. The other two are ... um ... friends.

Because there's just no other good word for "this person with whom I have separate sexual and a platonic relationships with and it is not the only sexual or platonic relationship for either of us"