168: Reverse Euphemisms

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Reverse Euphemisms

Title text: I'm still waiting for a chance to use 'I have to see a man about a horse'.

Explanation

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Euphemisms are figures of speech often used in place of more offensive terms. In this comic, Cueball uses gratuitous swearing as an "euphemism" for a benign term, inverting the typical usage of euphemisms to lessen shock by inserting offensive language into what would normally be a benign statement.

To 'drop the kids off at the pool' is a euphemism meaning to, as Cueball puts it 'go take a shit' In using 'go take a shit' to mean 'drop the kids off at the pool' Cueball is using the euphemism in the reverse, hence the title.

In the title text, the figure suggests he is waiting for a situation in which he has to see a man concerning a horse, as this is also euphemism meaning to urinate. It can be assumed that, when telling someone about seeing the man about the horse, he would say '...then I gotta go take a piss'

Transcript

My Hobby: Reverse Euphemisms

[Two people talking.]

Cueball: Oh, hey, school just let out and it's YMCA night, so I've gotta go take a shit.

Friend: What?

Cueball: I mean I actually have to drop the kids off at the pool.

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Discussion

It should probably be noted that 'dysphemism' is a real word. Though it usually applies to using derogatory terms as opposed to politically correct ones. 130.160.145.185 20:03, 9 March 2013 (UTC)