Euphemisms

robert@fm · 9 Nov 2002, 09:23 AM

Such euphemisms as can be discussed here whilst keeping it clean...

I remember the classic British sitcom Yes, Minister (about the Civil Service) once had a sketch along these lines (I can't remember verbatim, this is heavily paraphrased):

The scene takes place in the Department office, the night after a Christmas party at which Jim Hacker MP (the guy who nominally runs the Department) fears he may have been (ahem) somewhat indiscreet; he's discussing this with Sir Humphrey, the guy who actually runs the Department...

Hacker (nervously): Anything in the papers about last night?
Sir Humphrey: Only a small mention in the Daily Blah; they say that you were "overwrought".
Hacker: Thank goodness for that!
Sir Humphrey: Well, Minister, the exact phrase they used was "overwrought as a newt"...

Love that one!  The satirical magazine Private Eye uses the euphemism "tired and emotional" (which I used in a recent post) in the same way...

***Edwin*** · 9 Nov 2002, 10:10 AM

Here's the exact quote:-

Quote:

Jim: Do any of them say anything other than tired and emotional.
Bernard: William Hickey said you were overwrought, Minister.
Jim: Just overwrought, nothing about being drunk.
Bernard: Just overwrought.
Sir Humphrey: Overwrought as a newt actually.

emailmaniac · 10 Nov 2002, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robert@fm
...I remember the classic British sitcom Yes, Minister (about the Civil Service)...

I was thrilled to read this reference! Yes, Minister and its brilliant sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, are my two favorite sit-coms of all time! I almost wish the show had here its own separate thread!

One of my favorite euphemistic quips from the series is the Law of Inverse Relevance, expounded by Sir Arnold, Secretary of the Cabinet. With the usual air of unimpeachable authority that he declaims doubletalk as self-evident truth, Sir Arnold describes the Law of Inverse Relevance as meaning, "The less you intend to do about something, the more you have to keep talking about it."

A classic.

Dave

9 Nov 2002, 09:23 AM	#1
robert@fm The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,681	Euphemisms Such euphemisms as can be discussed here whilst keeping it clean... I remember the classic British sitcom Yes, Minister (about the Civil Service) once had a sketch along these lines (I can't remember verbatim, this is heavily paraphrased): The scene takes place in the Department office, the night after a Christmas party at which Jim Hacker MP (the guy who nominally runs the Department) fears he may have been (ahem) somewhat indiscreet; he's discussing this with Sir Humphrey, the guy who actually runs the Department... Hacker (nervously): Anything in the papers about last night? Sir Humphrey: Only a small mention in the Daily Blah; they say that you were "overwrought". Hacker: Thank goodness for that! Sir Humphrey: Well, Minister, the exact phrase they used was "overwrought as a newt"... Love that one!  The satirical magazine Private Eye uses the euphemism "tired and emotional" (which I used in a recent post) in the same way...