1. Like clichés, euphemisms can confuse people who are unfamiliar with their
meaning. A euphemism is a more polite, pleasant expression used in place of a
socially unacceptable form. In one expert's opinion, euphemisms enter the lan-
guage to "camouflage the naked truth.” Most people use euphemisms in their
everyday language. Euphemisms are frequently substituted for short, abrupt
words, the names of physical functions, or the terms forsome unpleasant social
situations. Although euphemisms are frequently considered more polite than the
words for which they are substituted, they distort reality. For example, you might
hear people say "powder my nose," ”see a man about a dog,” "the little girls’
room," or "go to the bathroom” instead of ”urinate.”