This evening's Channel 4 News made me laugh twice with its choices of words.
Firstly, it referred to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's husband Richard Timney as having claimed two "blue movies" on expenses. Pornographic movies (or films) possibly, even adult movies at a pinch - but blue movies? Very tabloidese.
Secondly, it said that one of the militants involved in the siege of the police academy in Lahore had been "roughed up" by police after they captured him. Rather euphemistic, I feel.
Admittedly, Channel 4 News isn't the only source to use the phrase 'blue movies' in relation to the Jacqui Smith farce. I can't find any other examples of 'roughed up' relating to the police academy siege, though.
Channel 4 News: 'Blue movies' and 'roughed up'
Posted by
JD (The Engine Room)
on Monday 30 March 2009
Labels:
blue movies,
Channel 4,
euphemism,
Jacqui Smith,
Lahore siege,
roughed up,
tabloidese,
television news
1 comment:
On a similar note, this cartoon made me laugh. It was in todays Times.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/cartoon/
Sarah
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