EUPHEMISMS

Because the UK is a small crowded country, it's important that we are all polite to each other. For this reason there are many polite ways to talk about impolite topics.

1. He's light-fingered: Phrase means that the person is a thief / steals things.
2. She's been doing time: Phrase 2 means that she has been in prison.
3. She passed away / kicked the bucket: Phrases in 3 mean that the person has died. 'Pass away' is more polite than 'kick the bucket'
4. No longer with us / pushing up daisies: Phrases in 4 mean that the person is dead. 'No longer with us' is more polite/formal than 'pushing up daisies'.
5. Down and out / A down-and-out: Phrases in 7 are talking about the homeless. 'Down and out' is an adjective but 'a down-and-out' is a noun that describes a person who is homeless. Pejorative (with negative connotations).
6. She's in the family way: Phrase 8 means pregnant. Other euphemisms include 'she's expecting a baby' and 'she has a bun in the oven'.
7. She had a baby: Phrase 9 means that she gave birth to a new child.
8. He made an honest woman of her: Phrase 10 means that a man has married a woman.