Question

Which sentence includes a euphemism?

• A. Cell phone network signals are weak in the hilly regions.
• B. Bottled water is reputed to be safe for drinking under all circumstances.
• C. A cemetery is a place where people are buried when they pass away.
• D. It is stupid to cry over split milk.

Hint:

A euphemism is a soft, indirect word standing in for a blunt one. Look for the option that avoids saying "die" directly.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of one that is harsh, unpleasant, or blunt, usually to soften a difficult topic such as death.

1. Option A: "weak" signals is a plain, neutral description of network quality. There is no harsh word being softened here.
2. Option B: This is a plain claim about bottled water. No blunt or unpleasant idea is being replaced by a gentler word.
3. Option C: "pass away" is the classic euphemism for "die." The sentence uses this softer phrase instead of saying people are buried when they die, which is the harsher, more direct word.
4. Option D: "cry over split milk" is an idiom about complaining over something small and unfixable. An idiom is a fixed figurative expression, not a euphemism, since it does not replace one specific harsh word with a gentler one.

Only Option C swaps a direct, blunt word (die) for a softer one (pass away), so it is the sentence with the euphemism.

Let's summarize:

• A euphemism replaces one blunt word with a gentler one, most often around death, illness, or another sensitive topic.
• An idiom, like "cry over split milk" in Option D, is a different device: a fixed figurative phrase, not a substitute for a harsher word.

The correct answer is Option C, because "pass away" softens "die."