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Why don't people die anymore?

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FlicketyB Sat 24-Jan-15 17:43:27

When I was a child anybody using a euphemism for death; 'passed away', 'passed over' etc was considered prissy. Now everybody 'passes away'.

The BBC announce on the news that some famous person has 'passed away'. I heard a doctor on 24 hours in A&E this week tell a patient's family that there family member had 'passed away'.

Why do we no longer say that people have died? What is wrong with the word that describes what has happened? Why are we so enamoured of a euphemism that it is becoming the standard way of saying someone has died.

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catlat Fri 30-Jan-15 15:27:02

I'm so glad to see a discussion on this topic. Personally, I really dislike 'passed away' - it sounds as if they've simply faded; 'passed' is even worse: passed where? It makes me think of mediums. I would say 'died' but I think some people find this too stark so I would try to use the same words as the bereaved person uses.

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Anya Fri 30-Jan-15 15:46:03

Something to strive for then Bags wink

That's a good idea catlat - if you are sympathetic to the words or phrases used by the bereaved person you won't go wrong.

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Raniji Mon 12-Oct-15 21:24:46

I'm getting to this blog late, but wanted to add my two pennies. The use of the word "passed" for "died" continues to drive me nuts here in the U.S. It is becoming more and more common and I have to press my lips together to keep from blurting out "DIED!"

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