Comments on: If you could banish one euphemism forever

By: gee

gee — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:11:34 +0000

I hate the phrase “passed away” every time I hear it. When people say things like “He passed away,” I think of someone “passing gas.” Which is another stupid phrase that I also hate.
We aren’t vapors and I prefer to think of our souls as more than farted out, which is what it sounds like when people say “passed away.”
As far as words for your body parts? Use the correct terminology, and don’t tell your kids that body parts are something to feel awkward about. And if you feel awkward about your own body, find a way not to.
Sorry if this comment is late. I read the first few comments and then had to chime in. I actually searched “‘I hate the phrase passed away'” and this came up. I was hoping there were others who also hated that phrase.

By: Nish

Nish — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:05:21 +0000

haha…I don’t have any more to add that is not already here. Loved reading this post, loved reading through the comments 😀

By: parisreader

parisreader — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:39:49 +0000

In reply to trapunto. Note to self: *must read entire thread before replying*

By: parisreader

parisreader — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:38:18 +0000

In reply to trapunto.

I was pretty certain this was “jury-rigged”, so I looked it up in the etymological dictionary (www.etymonline.com – I love it!) and found:

jury (adj.)
“temporary,” 1610s, in jury-mast, a nautical term for a temporary mast put in place of one broken or blown away. The word is probably ultimately from O.Fr. ajurie “help, relief,” from L. adjutare (see aid).

By: trapunto

trapunto — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:37:44 +0000

In reply to Virginia.

“Smithstonian”
“libary”
“Draws” for drawers (I happen think that one’s cute. It’s the last wisp of my husband’s vestigal Maine/Massachusetts accent.)

My granny goes bonkers over accessories pronounced with a soft c.

The wikipedia entry though jury might be from the Latin via the Old French ajurie (“help or relief”). That sounds right. When in doubt, it’s usually French.

By: Mumsy

Mumsy — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:23:28 +0000

In reply to trapunto.

Actually, I always thought it was gerry-rigged – as in gerrymandering. But I was wrong. According to my dictionary, it’s jury-rigged (rigged up for a temporary purpose). I think “jerry-rigged” got conflated with “jerry-built”, a slap at WWII German “ersatz” building materials.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:32:32 +0000

“Expresso” gives me the vapors – and “ekcetera” makes me twitch. How about you? And although it was once explained to me, I don’t know why “jury” in “jury-rigged” – did Wikipedia help?

By: trapunto

trapunto — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:17:30 +0000

In reply to Virginia.

Wikipedia *so* takes the fun out of things!

How about “expresso,” Virginia?

By: erisian23

erisian23 — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:14:46 +0000

In reply to Virginia.

damn you virginia.. a simple wikipedia search proves you right, and me an overthinker 🙂
i should have done that from the start !

we should just refer to it all as “MacGyvering” and be done with them all!

By: Virginia

Virginia — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:06:03 +0000

I was under the impression that ‘jury-rigged’ is an old sailing term – because so many repairs at sea must be – er – jury-rigged . And I think Jenny has already got her book crowd underway with pet hates – how about nu-cu-lar (nuclear where I come from – I find myself shouting at the TV) And Hemingway does benefit from adolescence. –