Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2009 January 15

= January 15 =

Cancer sticks, sugar water and evil sugar
I'm trying to think of a label for the language phenomenon of deliberately (and possibly humorously) calling something by a name that highlights its unhealthiness. For example, calling cigarrettes cancer sticks ("I'm just going out for some cancer-sticks, I'll be back in a jiffy"). I know I use sugar water for soda to pre-empt people telling me how unhealthy they are, because I know and still want to drink them. More general terms might be reverse euphemism or something like that, but is there a better one? Steewi (talk) 00:21, 15 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Dysphemism (a word I learnt myself on the refdesk; who says this thing doesn't work?). Algebraist 00:52, 15 January 2009 (UTC)


 * On a side note, we call cigarettes 'coffin nails'.--KageTora (talk) 06:44, 15 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Thanks Algebraist. An appropriate word, and one that makes perfect sense! Steewi (talk) 22:50, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

Latin word for understated ??
Could it be confirmed whether there is a direct or even approximate Latin translation for the word 'understated'. If so what is the source and where might this information be found?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by SensuLato (talk • contribs) 03:30, 15 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Could you indicate which sense of understated you have in mind? "He dressed in an understated manner"? "The company understated its losses for the quarter"? Something else? Deor (talk) 03:46, 15 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Probably use phrases with minus or minime... AnonMoos (talk) 03:49, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

Thats probably about right. "His expressions were very understated" "The decoration was very understated"? - looking at the term objectively... —Preceding unsigned comment added by SensuLato (talk • contribs) 04:02, 15 January 2009 (UTC)
 * In some such contexts, moderatus or modicus might work. Deor (talk) 05:12, 15 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Deor, I was thinking of those myself, along with their cognate modestus. Also continens, temperatus, humilis, demissus, verecundus, pudens, and pudibundus.
 * – ⊥ ¡ɐɔıʇǝo  N  oetica! T– 10:28, 15 January 2009 (UTC)