EUPHEMISMS & HYPERBOLE

EUPHEMISMSA technique in language which

involves using a more pleasant word or phrase to replace one which:◦i) has unpleasant or offensive

connotations◦ii) is considered too ‘ordinary’ to provide

an adequate description. E.g. When someone is dead, we say

they have passed away.If a woman is a housewife we say

she is a home executive.

Exercise: Match the euphemism with the plain

English equivalent

EUPHEMISM PLAIN ENGLISH

1. Urban Art Rubbish dump

2. Emporium Stupid

3. Intoxicated Window cleaner

4. Disposal Centre Drug addict

5. Canine control officer Graffiti

6. Socially disadvantaged youth

Fat

7. Glass maintenance engineer

Shop

8. Medicinally dependant Dog catcher

9. Big-boned Thug

10.

Intellectually challenged Drunk

HYPERBOLEThis is a deliberate exaggeration

for the purpose of expressing an idea with extra emphasis.

E.g. It’s been years since we last spoke.

It’s been so long since we last spoke.

It’s raining cats and dogs. It’s raining very heavily

Exercise: Identify the hyperbole in the following sentences and

re-write using the simple equivalent.

1.Her forehead is boiling hot2.I’d give my right arm to be going on tour

with you.3.The teacher bit my head off when I

interrupted him. 4.His thoughts were as black as night. 5.It’ll only take a minute to cook dinner. 6.I wouldn’t eat sushi for all the tea in China. 7.This knife couldn’t even cut through hot

butter. 8.The telephone has rung a thousand times

already. 9.Mom, you’re ruining my life!10.Simon is as thick as two bricks.