'Stinko, is he?' 'Not perhaps stinko, but certainly effervescent.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Stinko is replaced with effervescent to soften the insult.
- In plain terms
- They say effervescent instead of stinko to be polite.
- What can you take from it?
- Euphemisms can mask negative opinions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When should we soften language?
- Does wit hide truth?
Another view
It may obscure the truth too much.
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