Euphemisms for death

[ZephyrHawk]

Or as Monty Python would put it regarding one's dead parrot:

is no more,
has ceased to be,
expired and gone to meet 'is maker,
is a stiff,
bereft of life,
rests in peace,
metabolic processes are now history,
off the twig,
kicked the bucket,
shuffled off his mortal coil,
run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible.

THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!”

I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought of this. Today, they'd have to add "crossed the rainbow bridge". We also seem to be missing "pushing up daisies". Any others folks?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Won't be down for breakfast.

lol That's cute.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

If I'm taking in general, I'd say Liz Taylor died.

If I'm talking about someone I know or to someone who lost a loved one, I'd say lost or passed on. Yes we all know that the person is DEAD and at that they DIED, but it's hard enough dealing with the sadness without using in-your-face blunt wording. It won't hurt you to tell someone "I'm sorry you lost your grandmother yesterday" as opposed to "I'm sorry your grandmother died yesterday".

And trust me, we all know what you mean when you say "lost".

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought of this.

You were by no means alone. How can you not think of the classic.

I'm also partial to "has assumed room temperature."

 

[nmmom95]

I don't like "lost" either because it can actually happen.

My great-grandmother lost my great-uncle. When it happened she announced "I've lost L" We felt bad thinking she just figured out that he died, even though it happened many years ago. When we told her that he died she said "I know that. I lost him"

We found him in the back near the outdoor fireplace, still in the urn.

Thanks, Hoodie. Now I'm going to hell because I LOL'd at this!

If I'm taking in general, I'd say Liz Taylor died.

If I'm talking about someone I know or to someone who lost a loved one, I'd say lost or passed on. Yes we all know that the person is DEAD and at that they DIED, but it's hard enough dealing with the sadness without using in-your-face blunt wording. It won't hurt you to tell someone "I'm sorry you lost your grandmother yesterday" as opposed to "I'm sorry your grandmother died yesterday".

And trust me, we all know what you mean when you say "lost".

I agree.

 

[Hoodie]

Won't be down for breakfast.

Ha! Did anyone have Liz?

 

[MrsPete]

I don't have much of an opinion on euphamisms vs. bluntness, but I do hate the term "passed". Passed what? When did we as a society start using only half the phrase "passed away"? It sounds incomplete.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I don't have much of an opinion on euphamisms vs. bluntness, but I do hate the term "passed". Passed what? When did we as a society start using only half the phrase "passed away"? It sounds incomplete.

Passed is being polite without knowing if the person is religious or not.

Passed away for the atheists.
Passed on the the believers.

I'm just guessing but it sounds pretty good!

 

[Scurvy]

Personally I don't mind the euphamisms. I don't normally like it when people "sugar coat" things, but when it comes to death I figure anything that makes it easier on those who are grieving* is just fine. (*I was going to say "those who are left behind" but I imagine that if "passed on" annoys you, then implying they went somewhere and left people behind would also annoy you.) When my father died last year, I couldn't say he had died without crying, so I told people we had lost him to cancer. For whatever reason, it was easier for me to say that. They were all smart enough to understand that I didn't mean he had been misplaced. If they hadn't been, I guess they would have been confused and I wouldn't really have cared.

Or as Monty Python would put it regarding one's dead parrot:

is no more,
has ceased to be,
expired and gone to meet 'is maker,
is a stiff,
bereft of life,
rests in peace,
metabolic processes are now history,
off the twig,
kicked the bucket,
shuffled off his mortal coil,
run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible.

THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!”

No, he's just pining for the fjords.

 

[DisTeach1]

My cousin's long-term boyfriend recently broke up with her with no explanation whatsover, leaving her with a lot of heartache and questions.

She recently texted me with this message "David is dead". I thought-What??? I didn't think she really meant dead, but she did. He had killed himself.

It was so weird and blunt getting a text like that...with just that statement. We're so used to not saying it bluntly, that for a while, I thought she meant something else.

 

[crz4mm2]

Teats Up.

 

[sunnyday123]

I prefer the blunt way myself.

When I was 18 my Uncle died. He was in the hospital for a week, and every day I jumped up and walked out the door. The one day I decided to take my time he died. When I got to the room, the nurse stopped me and said I couldn't go in because Mr. X had "expired".

I told her I didn't know what that meant, so she told me he was gone. I told her I would wait.

When his nephews ( other side of the family ) came in, she used "gone" and they were all cheerful because they thought he had gone home.

It was a nightmare.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'll use "died" but rarely "dead" if it is someone close to me. I will usually say "my dad passed away" blah, blah, blah or I will say I "lost my dad" blah, blah, blah.
But I will probably never say,"My dad is d___"-- that is just such a cold was to say it. Heck, I can't even type that, lol.
I can say Liz Taylor is dead or someone like that--just not people close to me.

When I was 18 a dear family friend shot herself. Another friend came over to tell us and said, "Pat ___ shot herself." I asked, "Is she going to be OK?" And she said, "NO. She's dead." It was a totally shock to me. And I have hated the word "dead" ever since.

 

[walden]

Or as Monty Python would put it regarding one's dead parrot:

is no more,
has ceased to be,
expired and gone to meet 'is maker,
is a stiff,
bereft of life,
rests in peace,
metabolic processes are now history,
off the twig,
kicked the bucket,
shuffled off his mortal coil,
run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible.

THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!”

Thanks for the monty python reference, but you forgot "if you had not nailed him to his perch!"

Honestly, I prefer to say, "died." Having said that, I do use euphemisms when needed to be culturally and generationally sensitive, but I dislike having to do it.

It is what it is. Death is death, and death is the inevitable result of life.

 

[momto2girls]

I don't have much of an opinion on euphamisms vs. bluntness, but I do hate the term "passed". Passed what? When did we as a society start using only half the phrase "passed away"? It sounds incomplete.

ITA!! I hate when people says that someone "passed". It absolutely sounds incomplete.

 

[luvmy3]

If I'm taking in general, I'd say Liz Taylor died.

If I'm talking about someone I know or to someone who lost a loved one, I'd say lost or passed on. Yes we all know that the person is DEAD and at that they DIED, but it's hard enough dealing with the sadness without using in-your-face blunt wording. It won't hurt you to tell someone "I'm sorry you lost your grandmother yesterday" as opposed to "I'm sorry your grandmother died yesterday".

And trust me, we all know what you mean when you say "lost".

What bothers me more is when people say things like "they are in a better place" Really? I don't think so, I'm pretty sure that person would rather be alive and well with their family. I understand that it may be comforting for some people to hear that, especially when a loved one was sick and suffering, but when I have a loved one die, thats the last thing I want to hear.

 

[Agri]

My minister sends out emails stating that they've "claimed the promise of the resurrection." Yeah.

I prefer died. It's what happened. I don't believe in euphemisms - I definitely don't think you can sugarcoat death.

 

[C.Ann]

Hmm.. Interesting topic.. In speaking of my own DH (to other people), I have used the terms:

dead
died
passed away..
It just depends on who I'm talking to - and "why" we're talking about it..

When I speak about my dad - who died back in 1987 - I usually say I "lost" my father "x" years ago.. Not really sure why I say it that way, but I do..

When I am at a wake/funeral - face to face with the deceased persons closest family member - and I am holding their hands (or hugging them), the person is crying, I'm crying, I usually say "I'm so sorry for your loss.." I just couldn't imagine myself - under those particular circumstances - saying, "I'm sorry Diane/Joe is dead.." That sounds terribly insensitive to me in a moment such as that..

Other terms - "kicked the bucket"; "bought the farm"; etc. sound very disrespectful to me..

"Passed" is "iffy" with me..

"Went to sleep" - I would never, ever say that to a child - even if it were in regards to a family pet..

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I prefer died. It's what happened. I don't believe in euphemisms - I definitely don't think you can sugarcoat death.

This. When I was 8, my granpa died. He didn't pass or expire or move on..etc. He died. It is what happens at the other end of birth. I guess I don't get the need to have things sugar coated.

 

[ols386]

If I'm taking in general, I'd say Liz Taylor died.

If I'm talking about someone I know or to someone who lost a loved one, I'd say lost or passed on. Yes we all know that the person is DEAD and at that they DIED, but it's hard enough dealing with the sadness without using in-your-face blunt wording. It won't hurt you to tell someone "I'm sorry you lost your grandmother yesterday" as opposed to "I'm sorry your grandmother died yesterday".

And trust me, we all know what you mean when you say "lost".

I agree.

Passed is being polite without knowing if the person is religious or not.

Passed away for the atheists.
Passed on the the believers.

I'm just guessing but it sounds pretty good!

I had not thought of it that way. I just thought "passed away" or "passed on" pretty much meant the same thing whether you were speaking to an atheist or a believer.