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Euphemisms

Euphemisms are coded expressions that we use when whatever we are referring to is considered inappropriate for the circumstances or when we are embarrassed or uncomfortable with the literal version. As one might expect, many euphemisms relate to sex or death.

Here's a list, with the meanings in brackets:

Ample proportions (Fat)
Armed intervention (Military attack)
Asleep with Jesus (Dead)
Batting for the other side (Homosexual)
Be excused (Visit the lavatory) (Origin)
Between jobs (Unemployed)
Big boned (Fat)
Bite the dust (Die)
Blow chunks (Vomit) (Origin)
Bought the farm (Died)
Breathe one's last (Die)
Broad in the beam (Fat)
Brown trousers (Defecate through fear)
Built for comfort not speed (Fat)
Bun in the oven - A (Pregnant) (Origin)
Carey Street - On (Bankrupt) (Origin)
Carnal knowledge (Sex) (Origin)
Cash in your chips (Die)
Cement shoes (Dead)
Change into your brown trousers (Defecate through fear)
Chutney ferret (Homosexual)
Collateral damage (Military destruction) (Origin)
Colour up (Blush) (Origin)
Come to Jesus (Die)
Comfort woman (Prostitute)
Concrete shoes - Put on your (Die)
Cor blimey (God blind me) (Origin)
Cross over to the other side (Die)
Dear John (Break up message)
Depart this life (Die)
Departed - The (A dead person)
Differently abled (Disabled) (Origin)
Do your business (Defecate) (Origin)
Drop off the perch (Die)
Economical with the truth (Lying) (Origin)
Eff off (Fuck off) (Origin)
Eternal rest (Death)
Ethnic cleansing (Racial genocide)
Fall asleep (Die) (Origin)
Fate worse than death (Sex) (Origin)
Full figured (Fat)
Gardening leave (Unemployment)
Gentleman friend (Lover)
Get your leg over (Have sex)
Give up the ghost (die)
Go all the way (Have sex)
Go down for the third time (Die)
Go over to the other side (Die) (Origin)
Hankie pankie (Sex) (Origin)
Happy event - A (Birth) (Origin)
Have it away (Have sex) (Origin)
Hide the sausage (Sex)
Hot to trot (Sexually excited)
House of ill repute - A (Brothel) (Origin)
In an interesting condition (Pregnant) (Origin)
In reduced circumstances (Bankrupt) (Origin)
In the club (Pregnant) (Origin)
In the family way (Pregnant) (Origin)
In trouble (Pregnant) (Origin)
Fallen off the back of a lorry (Stolen) (Origin)
Kick the bucket (Die) (Origin)
Knee trembler (Sex in a standing position)
Knocked up (Pregnant) (Origin)
Knocking shop (Brothel)
Lady of the night - A (Prostitute) (Origin)
Laid off (Unemployed) (Origin)
Leave the room (Visit the lavatory) (Origin)
Leg over (Sex)
Lie back and think of England (Have sex)
Light in the loafers (Homosexual)
Like the Dickens (Like the devil) (Origin)
Lose your lunch (Vomit) (Origin)
Make hay (Have sex)
Making whoopee (Having sex)
Meat packer (Homosexual)
Meet your maker (Die)
Missing in action (Dead)
Night soil (Faeces) (Origin)
No longer with us (Dead)
Not tonight Josephine (Refusal of offer of sex)
On Carey Street (Bankrupt)
On the job (Having sex)
One off the wrist (Masturbation)
Pass on (Die) (Origin)
Pass over to the other side (Die) (Origin)
Paying guest - A (A lodger) (Origin)
Peg out (Die) (Meaning)
Pillow biter (Homosexual)
Pop your clogs (Die) (Origin)
Private parts (Genitals) (Origin)
Put on the wooden overcoat (Die) (Origin)
Put to sleep (Euthanise) (Origin)
Restricted growth (Short)
Roll in the hay (Sex)
Rumpy pumpy (Sex) (Origin)
Shoot blanks (Be sterile)
Shuffle off this mortal coil (Die)
Shuffle off to Buffalo (Die)
Slap and tickle (Sex)
Sleep around (Be promiscuous)
Sleep with (Have sex with) (Origin)
Smallest room in the house - The (The lavatory) (Origin)
Snatched from us (Died)
Something for the weekend sir? (Offer of purchase of a condom)
Spend a penny (Urinate) (Origin)
Spend more time with my family (Become unemployed) (Origin)
Supreme sacrifice (Death)
The F word (Fuck)
The beast with two backs (A couple engaged in sex)
The birds and the bees (Sexual reproduction)
The call of nature (The urge to urinate/defecate) (Origin)
The wrong side of the blanket (Illegitimate) (Origin)  ()
Tired and over emotional (Drunk) (Origin)  ()
Turn a trick (Have sex for money)
Turn up your toes (Die)
Up the duff (Pregnant) (Origin)
Visit the ladies room (Visit the lavatory) (Origin)
Visually challenged (Short-sighted)
Wear your apron high (Pregnant)
Well endowed (With large sexual organs) (Origin)
Well hung (With a large penis) (Origin)
Well fed (Fat)
Wham bam and thank you ma'am (Brief sex)
With child (Pregnant) (Origin)
Your place or mine? (Offer of sex)