Trying to make the mean things you say sound nicer (example 2) or making a mild comment you make sound even worse by adding you were just using an euphemism (example 1).
1.
Jack: o my God, I really hate that Grace-woman! Why is she coming over instead of DROPPING DEAD?
Karen: o come on, she's not that bad.
Jack: she is! And I'm telling her, just wait.
Grace: hi guys!
Jack: I'm really sorry, Grace, but I just don't like you very much. And that is really just an euphemism. Bye bye now!
Grace: o my God! I'm outta here!
2.
Pete: okay, well, it's not the best painting in the world...
Joan: yeah, nice euphemism, Pete. This is without a doubt the worst painting I have ever seen. Seriously, even a two-year-old would do a much better job!
The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive:
Euphemism is an expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces, or in the case of doublespeak to make it less troublesome for the speaker.
When a phrase is used as a euphemism, it often becomes a metaphor whose literal meaning is dropped. Euphemisms are often used to hide unpleasant or disturbing ideas, even when the literal term for them is not necessarily offensive. This type of euphemism is used in public relations and politics, where it is sometimes disparagingly called doublespeak. There are also superstitiouseuphemisms, based (consciously or subconsciously) on the idea that words have the power to bring bad fortune (for example, not speaking the word "cancer"; see Etymology and Common examples below) and religious euphemisms, based on the idea that some words are sacred, or that some words are spiritually imperiling (taboo; see Etymology and Religious euphemisms below).
The substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression to replace one that might offend or suggest something unpleasant, for example, "he is at rest" is a euphemism for "he is dead."
βEuphemisms such as βslumber roomβ . . . abound in the funeral businessβ.
A word people use because they like deceiving themselves to believe we live in a Utopia.
Mostly they're used by organizations and "considerate" people who don't want to offend the "situationally disturbed" citizens.
George Carlin, a comedian, did a great schpiel about euphemisms once. (A few of the following examples are in his speech.)
You should read it. It may not "open your eyes," but you'll realize how much we like to disguise our speech and blind ourselves. Disguising a condition with nicer, longer words doesn't change the fact that you still have the condition. Sorry.
(Note: Not all examples {e.g. black/white} are "conditions" or negative at all}
IMO, There's nothing wrong with most of the following conditions; they just warrant a euphemism because society can't accept reality. Many are unavoidable.
I just call 'em like I see em.
Nobody:
is old, they're elderly senior citizens.
is gay, they're homosexual.
is poor, they're in poverty.
is black, they're African American.
is white, they're Caucasian.
is fat, they're obese.
is a slut, they're promiscuous.
is crippled, they're handicapped.
is deaf, they're hearing impaired.
is blind, they're visually impaired.
is retarded, they're mentally challenged.
is short, they're vertically challenged.
is stupid, they're academically challenged.