Euphemisms for talking about illness
We've talked about the dislike many of us have for euphemisms about dying (like "passed"); I'd like to raise the subject of euphemisms for talking about illness.
I was just told a retired colleague of mine is "gravely ill," and I'm not clear at all what that means. Does that mean at death's door? or does that just mean really, really sick? How does "gravely ill" compare to "seriously ill"?
by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 23, 2018 3:51 PM
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gravely sounds like one foot in the grave ( and the other one in a hello kitty roller skate?)
gravely = oh fuck seriously = ah shit
by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 23, 2018 6:02 AM
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Gravely ill means dying, and soon (likely within the next week or two)
by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 23, 2018 6:13 AM
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I'm under the weather today.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 23, 2018 6:30 AM
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Can't people just say, "So-and-so is dying" rather than "So-and-so is gravely ill"? It's this same fear again that if you say the magic words "death" and "dying" bad luck will befall you --I don't understand it.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 23, 2018 3:51 PM
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