Why don't people die anymore?

Another American euphemism, seen in Macy's window: 'intimate garments'. Oh dear!

When I visited the USA for the first and only time, I was slightly puzzled by the signs that led me to the 'rest room'. Naively, I expected the odd sofa or easy chair where I could take a break from shopping. But there it was - just the loo!

One very sad trend I've noticed is for prem babies who don't survive birth to be described as 'born sleeping'. In that instance the euphemism sounds far more gentle and appropriate.

vq & absent Seraphim must have different plumbing to mere mortals.

Isaiah 6 1

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."

Look at the older gravestones in particular. Considering death was all around them the Victorians used euphemisms for death all the time.

I didnt realise that gravestones have those different words on them. I dont remember seeing them.
I will have a better read next time.

There is nothing new about some not wishing to say died. You can read Gravestones over 100 years old which has - departed this life, taken by angels, fell asleep etc carved on them . If passed or passed away ,conked out, expired, gone, lost, helps people then I support the use . For me it's no different to saying a person is over weight rather or obese than fat. No different to some choosing nit picking over pendantic ?

Yes I often wondered if it meant that he had poor aim

vampirequeen In the Authorised Version, he "went in to cover his feet", which made absolutely no sense to me as a child and now suggests something I should really rather not picture.

retiredguy and jane, thank you - that makes sense now

I use euphemisms all the time but even I draw the line at this one.

This is a quote from The Living Bible first published in 1971.

1 Samuel 24:3 "Saul went into the cave to go to the bathroom"

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like euphemisms. In fact I find some confusing. I much prefer 'died' then I understand exactly what has occurred and can react appropriately -I hope.

We have always said 'died' and still do. I hate it when people on TV say so and so has 'passed'. I keep waiting for the next bit - passed by, passed the salt, passed the parcel or what?

I think that the increasing use of euphemisms might also be part of the issue society seems to have with dying in general. My grandmother had a huge influence on me as a child and her matter of fact approach to life and death has rubbed of on me. She saw death as a natural event.....its going to happen...hopefully after a long and productive life but, it will happen and there is no use pretending it does not. I was reminded of her views of a 'good' death when I saw The Mr Turner film.....when he and his father died they were at home with a loving family member. There was no pretence, no 'fighting' against it just an acceptance of what was to be. It was no less sad or regretful and in many ways something to be envied.

I remember American western films where someone was "planted" as opposed to buried. I think they had "croaked"

you could read on gravestones that people 'fell asleep' This frightened me as a child - you had to be careful where you were when you fell asleep.
Living in Germany I haven't caught up on 'passed away' although I know what it means. Still its the same here, not many people use the proper term.

One expression - I think it's an American one - that I don't like at all is "she didn't make it".
It sounds as if the person has failed at their task of living. Hideous.

My mum had the same address book for years and had no qualms about putting a big cross through their names and writing 'dead' when they expired. My sister and I often laughed at her bluntness but I'm now at an age where deleting phone numbers serves the same purpose .

My daughter gets quite het up when people use anything other than 'died' or 'was killed' when referring to her (deceased) husband and will correct them. People often use euphemisms as a form of protection, either for themselves or the bereaved and so I try to persuade my daughter to be gentler with them, but she does feel very strongly about it.

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071009073105AATNgNk
One explanation of popping clogs

The implication is that someone would only want to pawn his clogs when he had no further need for them, that is, when he was about to die. But it's also possible that it's linked to the idiom to pop off (an abbreviation of pop off the hooks), which can also mean to die.

Who knew?

Marmight, was he a smoker?

Turned his toes up, croaked.

Kicked the bucket is another one.

Can someone please tell me how the phrase "popped his clogs" originated?