In language, both dysphemism (from the Greek “dys” δυς = non and “pheme'” φήμη = speech) and cacophemism (in Greek “cacos” κακός = bad) refer to the usage of an intentionally harsh word or expression instead of a polite one; they are rough opposites of euphemism. “Dysphemism” may be either offensive or merely humorously deprecating, while “cacophemism” is usually deliberately offensive. (More recently, the linguist Kate Burridge has coined the term "orthophemism," to refer to a neutral name or expression.) Dysphemism is related to "blasphemy," but is less focused in scope, and therefore not directly synonymous. Euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker. ... Look up Humour in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up blasphemy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Examples of dysphemism include “dead tree edition” for the paper version of an online magazine, or the American military personnel’s use of “shit on a shingle” for their common breakfast of creamed chipped beef on toast. The dead tree edition of some document is a paper version of a document, as opposed to alternatives such as one or more files on harddisk (locally or accessed remotely through internet), CD-ROM, diskette, etc. ... Chipped beef on toast is a foodstuff comprised of a creamy sauce, and slivers of meat, served on toasted bread. ... Creamed chipped beef on toast Chipped beef on toast (or creamed chipped beef on toast) is a foodstuff comprised of a creamy sauce and rehydrated slivers of dried beef, served on toasted bread. ...

Dysphemism is common in everyday language. Few sports teams actually slaughter or annihilate one another, and while a losing team may be disappointed or angry, they are unlikely to be shattered; few companies actually crush their competition; no one is actually dumb as a box of rocks. See hyperbole. Annihilation is defined as total destruction or complete obliteration of an object;[1] having its root in the Latin nihil (nothing). ... Death by crushing or pressing is a method of execution which has a long history during which the techniques used varied greatly from place to place. ... This article is about a figure of speech. ...

Many of the same subjects can be dysphemized as euphemized, such as sex and death—a respected dead person may be said to have passed away, a disrespected one to be worm food or to have kicked the bucket. Oddly, some humorous expressions can be either euphemistic or dysphemic, depending on context, because terms which can be dysphemic can also be affectionate. For example, spanking the monkey might be used as either a softer alternative for “male masturbation,” or a more deliberately provocative one, depending on the audience. Likewise, pushing up daisies can be taken as either softer or harsher than “died.” It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ...

The “Dysphemism Treadmill”

Similar to the concept of the euphemism treadmill, a complementary “dysphemism treadmill” exists, but is more rarely observed. In these cases, notions of profanity, obscenity and other words once called “offensive” are later described as “objectionable,” then “questionable,” and in some cases, they reach near or outright acceptability. Euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker. ... Look up Profanity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Obscenity in Latin obscenus, meaning foul, repulsive, detestable, (possibly derived from ob caenum, literally from filth). The term is most often used in a legal context to describe expressions (words, images, actions) that offend the prevalent sexual morality of the time. ...

One modern example is the word “sucks.” “That sucks” began as American slang for “that is very unpleasant,” and is the shortened version of “that sucks cock/dick.” It developed over the late-20th century from being an extremely vulgar phrase to mainstream slang. (The origin of the intransitive usage, “sucks,” is disputed and may derive from more innocuous slang. See the archived discussions of The American Dialect Society [1]. The same may be said of the use of “screw,” often used as slang for sexual intercourse (and a euphemism for “fuck”), in such usages as “to screw up” (to make a major mistake).) Oral sex consists of all sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, which may include use of the tongue, teeth, and throat, to stimulate genitalia. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers dialect or language. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Sometimes a term will go from being a euphemism to being a dysphemism and then go back to being a euphemism. “Queer” and “gay,” for example, both started as euphemisms for “homosexual,” and then got on the euphemism treadmill and became insults—but are now the preferred adjectives amongst the gay community themselves. ^[1] The word queer has traditionally meant strange or unusual, but it is also currently often used in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual communities. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... A euphemism is an expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces. ...

An especially active euphemism-dysphemism cycle has been turning for the race terms "black", "negro", and "colored"; the remaining euphemisms "of color" and those referring to African origin have not yet turned into dysphemisms.

Examples

• Broken, losing, crippleware (referring to defects in software^[2])
• Dead tree edition
• Snail mail
• (in French) “Manger les pissenlits par la racine” meaning “to eat dandelions by their roots” (for to be dead—similar to English “pushing up daisies”)
• Point your percy at the porcelain (for urinate)
• Pushing up daisies (for dead)
• Worm food (for dead)
• On the rag/red/blob or "Riding the crimson wave" (for menstruation)

Many further examples can be found in a 'profanisaurus' published by 'Viz' magazine - ^[3] The dead tree edition of some document is a paper version of a document, as opposed to alternatives such as one or more files on harddisk (locally or accessed remotely through internet), CD-ROM, diskette, etc. ... Snail mail is a derogatory retronym (named after the snail with its proverbially slow speed) used to refer to letters and missives carried by conventional postal delivery services, and refers to the inevitable lag-time between dispatch of a letter and its receipt relative to the virtually instantaneous despatch and... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Look up daisy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

See also

Look up dysphemism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Euphemism
• Power word

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... This article is about a figure of speech. ... This article is about metaphor in literature and rhetoric. ... Euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

References

1. ^ http://clubs.myams.org/equip/index.asp?page=resources&sub=faq
2. ^ Raymond, Eric (editor). Broken, crippleware and losing. Jargon File. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.
3. ^ http://www.viz.co.uk/profanisaurus/profan_front_index.php