Exercise 20. Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the euphemisms, in italics, with more simple, direct words or phrases.

1. I’m afraid Mrs Wild passed away last night.

2. Excuse me, where’s the nearest public convenience?

3. Senior citizens are entitled to free bus travel.

4. Sadly, my grandmother is no longer with us.

5. In the middle of the exam I had to answer a call of nature.

6. His hat had seen better days.

7. We had to have our dog put to sleep.

8. We were obliged to dispense with Miss Farr’s services last month.

9. He has been asked to leave the country due to his involvement with activities incompatible with his diplomatic duties here.

10. The state has an obligation to assist the less privileged members of the community.

9. The estate agent says the house needs some attention.

10. The ambassador said the talks were likely to have a negative outcome.

11. Tourists are advised to avoid the less salubrious parts of the city.

12. Mr West has shown insufficient effort in the execution of his duties.

EXERCISE 21. The following sentences are very direct. Rewrite them, replacing the part in italics with euphemisms.

1. She is very old.

2. He’s fat and ugly.

3. I’m going to vomit.

4. She’s a terrible cook.

5. You were drunk last night.

6. This work is very careless.

7. Grandpa can hardly walk.

8. Your representative lied to us.

9. The talks were a waste of time.

10. He’s always late for work.

11. Your product is very badly-made.

12. Our relations with your country are awful.

13. It would be stupid to go on strike now.

14. You owe us money.

15. We were very angry with your letter.

Exercise 22. Translate the following sentences and pick out the antonyms.

Analyse them according to their morphological structure. Define the type of oppositeness (qualitative, complementary, converse).

1. “Is he fair or dark?” – “Neither.” “Is he tall or short?” – “Average, I should say.” “Are you trying to irritate me?” “No, he’s just ordinary. There’s nothing in him to attract your attention. He’s neither plain nor good-looking.”

2. It is difficult enough to fix a tent in dry weather, in wet, the task becomes Herculean.

3. I’m telling you the truth. Why should I tell you a lie?

4. Masters came in and Masters went and Gay who was telling us that port did not agree with him, applied himself to the nuts.

5. To her, men were good or bad.

6. Her soul which was black as night, is now pure and white like the new-fallen snow.

7. Such a clock is the real master of the house; he orders the comings and goings, the down sittings and uprisings of his votaries.

8. However much or little she knows, she has never, in my experience, displayed either for profit or for effect any detailed acquaintance with the little world that circulates round her shop.

9. Well, let us suppose that this is the anniversary of my wedding day and my thoughts have been much occupied with the ups and downs, the fortunes and misfortunes of married life.

10. Fact is, I can’t quite believe it’s all true till I see it in black and white.

11. Endersleigh Street itself is a small street sandwiched between two larger streets in the neighbourhood of Oxford Circus.

12. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the thing, Barbara must not be allowed to prevent him from going.

13. And – well, that’s the long and short of it.