Why don't people die anymore?

"Gone before" they tended to say when I was a kid ( in rural Lancashire).
"Popped his Clogs" was another ( usually heard in a pub tap room).
I tend to say 'passed'.
Getting to that age now when I get to say it too.

Maybe 'died' sounds too harsh in some circumstances and is used to soften the blow. I've used nearly all the euphemisms at some point depending on circumstances and person I'm talking to.

Gosh, what a lot of posts so quickly. What made me post this thread was hearing the BBC using the phrase 'passed away' in a news bulletin announcing someone's death, and a doctor in hospital using it to tell the family of a patient that the patient had died suddenly.

Granjura I understand your concerns but I posted this subject on Pedants corner quite deliberately because I had an issue with the use of language and why people do not die anymore, only pass away. Your concerns are understandable, but under a different heading like Health

Death is death, using an euphemism, does nothing to take the pain away and while I understand people's concern. When my DS(ister) died. I would have been uncomfortable with anyone using euphemisms. I would have taken it that they were not comfortable with the thought of death and were protecting themselves by using it.

Spend a penny of course!!

Pop your clogs is a good one, what is the origins of that I wonder? Same as not putting shoes on the table I suppose. I wonder if all those pedants out there who always use the correct terms also use them for other bodily functions. Do you always ask your GC if they want to urinate? Or would you say do you want a wee/ pee/ use the toilet?

If passed away. Departed this life, Passed . Popped cloggs. Fell of perch etc is the choice then so be it, surely nothing to get knickers in a knot over

An acquaintance announced her husband's death in the paper. " * * * * finally ran out of puff .........' . I quite liked that

My mums solicitor used to talk about when she became an estate. She now has. Alexander McCall Smiths characters talk about when people "become late". Very discreet!

"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause"

Of course Shakespeare's euphemisms are quite acceptable

DH and I usually use the term 'pop our clogs' to refer to our own deaths, hopefully some years hence.
But if I was talking about someone's death that had actually happened, I'd just use the d-word.

Absent I give up on you

Our vet told that old Fluffy was now "chasing mice over the fields of Ayrshire". We were mystified until she explained that there's a pet crematorium there. We were also mystified as he'd never to our certain knowledge chased a mouse in his life! Oh well she was being kind. We weren't heartbroken in his case as he wasn't exactly scythed down in his prime (unlike other ones we've had sadly)

Pets cross the 'Rainbow Bridge' after death. Google it for more information. That really is a euphemism but very comforting for lots of bereaved pet owners and who are we to judge what others take comfort from.

My goldfish were put to sleep by a vet when they started to rot alive. He said he'd never had to put fish to sleep before but he did it for me anyway because I couldn't bear to watch them literally breaking into pieces as they swam not could I simply flush them down the toilet whilst they were still alive.

I thought "put to sleep" applied only in instances of euthanasia.

Mammalian pets are usually 'put to sleep', I don't know if that phrase is used for goldfish though, or birds or tortoises.

Out of idle curiosity, do people use "passed on", "gone to heaven", "gone to a better place", etc. just about other people who have died or do they also use such euphemisms for goldfish, cats and guinea pigs too?

vegasmags this is how a typical conversation goes.....
Neighbour...'did you know they've buried Peggy?
Me.....'Oh no, sorry about that'
Neighbour....They didn't take her Church, we went straight the Crem'
It isn't a euphemism it's just a general description covering every aspect of disposing of the body. If a flight of Angels had picked Peggy up and carried her away she would still have been buried. It's a regional thing. Think Amy Turtle from Crossroads saying it.

What does it matter? Everyone knows what euphemisms like 'passed away' mean so where's the problem?

I don't want to be blunt about my son. It's hard enough to bear at times even though I lost him 30 years ago.

Euphemisms help me cope and I'm sure that's why some other people use them too.

I don't know if it's a local thing but when the hearse arrives at the house with the coffin we talk about the person arriving not the hearse or the funeral director We also keep our curtains closed until after the funeral. If it's a close neighbour we keep our curtains closed until after the cortege has left.

No, just another way of saying someone's died/dead in certain areas.

So burial is a euphemism for cremation then?

vegasmags Have heard older people say buried when referring to cremation. Think it's just a general term, certainly round here.

'Passed over to the other side' is another one. Sounds as though they've been tossed over a hedge or something.

I quite agree re all this"passed on, away, over" etc. Makes me think (very irreverently of pass the parcel. I was always very impressed by the old Salvation army lady who when she died was announced as having been 'promoted to glory'! If you're going to use a euphemism then use a BIG one!