I think looking for a replacement term for “used” or “old” exactly fits with being “less direct”.
Source OED: from Greek euphemizein “speak with fair words,”
I believe the OPs usage is correct, though synonym could also work.
However, I would very much like to find a euphemism for “grammar nazi,” which I find offensive and inappropriate.
If someone makes a mistake when s/he writes code, does the person who corrects the error get labeled as a “program nazi”? “Nazi,” to me is a really loaded word which should be used very selectively.
Not exactly on point, but a brilliant marketing coup. They really did this. They took the broken dog biscuits off a production line, put them in a shiny package, and labeled it,
Are we talking “used goods” as in someone calling a woman that? Cause darlin I’ve had someone say to me that they heard I had some mileage on me….I told them…honey, they call me a classic model. People line up at Mecums to bid on a prize like me!
@Zyx: Who mentioned taboos? We were talking about usage and the resonance and power of certain words. @janbb talked about trivialization, which is a perfect description of using Nazi and Gestapo lightheartedly.
@gailcalled And I’m saying that there’s nothing wrong with using any term in any context, the only thing that matters is the message conveyed. And this “resonance” you speak of is only fortified by people scaring away from words that might offend anyone. When words like Nazi and Gestapo are used lightheartedly it will often result in a metaphor because of the original meaning of the word. These are things that exist in language and nothing is exempt from it. Freedom of speech etc.
And with people being able to say anything, disaproving in hindsight is almost delusional. Other than whether you like it or not is just a matter of taste and even you can think whatever you want. I’ll even break rule no.1 and tell you you can do anything.
Call me a kike or a yid. Call my friends niggers, polacks, mics…no one will mind. No one will take offense, no one will respond in an unreasonable manner. It’s just a matter of taste.
Jokes about gas chambers, lynching, gulags and the Klan are also hilarious, particularly when used as metaphor.
@gailcalled It really doesn’t matter. You want to bitch about the usage of “Nazi” then please do so on the other question, or post a question to deal specifically with the problems other jellies have with using the word, instead of hijacking this question which had nothing to do with it.