Cliches and Euphemisms
When you're weeding the cliches out of your writing, nonfiction or the narrative parts of fiction, a handy list of euphemisms helps the task. I must admit that I've never heard of these, but they may be indigenous to the UK:
Bash the bishop
Change into your brown trousers
Gordon Bennett!
Not tonight Josephine
Ten one hundred
Wear your apron high
My apologies if some of the examples are a bit rude--many phrases in the list are vulgarisms--but I don't even know what these mean! Now, where is that email I had once from a man on the continent who was searching for a list of cliches?
Bash the bishop
Change into your brown trousers
Gordon Bennett!
Not tonight Josephine
Ten one hundred
Wear your apron high
My apologies if some of the examples are a bit rude--many phrases in the list are vulgarisms--but I don't even know what these mean! Now, where is that email I had once from a man on the continent who was searching for a list of cliches?
Labels: English, words, writing
posted by Georganna Hancock M.S. | 9:38 AM
2 Comments:
I haven't heard any/most of those in that list. Is that a blessing? I hope. :P
Oh, Bhaswati, you culture vulture, you! All you read are great literary writings? If you have an ear for the dialogue of the common man, you'll recognize many of the everyday phrases we use to indicate bodily functions and human activities. I still suspect many are Britishisms.
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