Rhetoric

RHETORIC DEVICE
Arguments based on Rhetoric

A rhetorical device is
any language that
helps an author or
speaker achieve a
particular purpose.
EUPHEMISM
-is an appropriate expression used in
the place of a phrase or words that may
be found inappropriate or offensive.
Example:
1. We have to let you go, Tyler.
2. She’s a curvy woman.
3. Jimmy was sent to a correctional facility.
Other Examples…
in every day conversation
1. She’s not sick; she’s “under the weather.”
2. He’s not a liar; he’s “creative with the
truth.”
3. They’re not in a sexual relationship;
they’re “friends with benefits.”
4. He’s not poor; he’s “economically
disadvantaged.”
5. She didn’t break up with him; she “needed
some space.”
Other Examples…
Work related
1. He’s not unemployed; he’s “between jobs.”

2. She didn’t get fired; she “chose to resign.”
3. You’re not unable to find a job; you’re just
“considering your options.”
4. She’s not in a job that’s below her career
level; she’s just “under-employed.”
5. He wasn’t fired; his company is
“downsizing.”
Other Examples…
Death & dying
1. She’s not deceased; she’s the “dearly
departed.”
2. They didn’t die; they “bought the farm.”
3. She’s not deceased; she “kicked the
bucket.”
4. The family dog didn’t die; they went “over
the rainbow bridge.”
5. He’s not deceased; he’s “sleeping with
the fishes.”
1. You’re not old; you’re “over the hill.”
2. She’s not pregnant; she “has a bun in the oven.”
3. It’s not a strip club; it’s a “gentleman’s club.”
4. It’s not an annoying telemarketer calling; it’s a
“courtesy call.”
5. The item isn’t stolen; it just “fell off the back of a
truck.”
6. It’s not a tiny cramped apartment; it’s “cozy.”
7. It’s not pornography; it’s “adult entertainment.”
8. They didn’t get a divorce; they “consciously
uncoupled.”
9. It’s not a lie; it’s an “alternate fact.”
10. It’s not torture; it’s “enhanced interrogation.”
DYSPHEMISM
-is the use of a harsh,
more offensive word
instead of one considered
less harsh and generally
used to shock or offend.
Examples:
• Snail mail for postal mail,
• Cancer stick or death stick in
reference to a cigarette.
• Egghead for genius.
• Worm food for dead.
• Pig for a policeman.
• Bullshit for lies.
do-gooder - for someone very focused on helping the
poor or social causes
cheater - for someone who is unfaithful to a partner
crackhead - for one who uses certain types of illegal
drugs
fag - for a male who is homosexual
geezer - for an older person
gold digger - for someone who seeks out wealthy
dating or marriage partners
illegal - for someone seeking asylum in a place other
than the country of which they are a citizen
lezzo or lesbo - for someone who is a lesbian
narc - for someone who tells the truth
pill-billy - for someone who is addicted to
opioids
tub of lard - for an overweight person
two-faced - for someone who is nice to
people but says ugly things about them to
other people
two-timer - for someone who cheats on a
romantic partner
DOWNPLAYER
-is a comment given in order to try to
belittle a situation or minimize an issue.
Example:
1. It is true that the mayor stole money from
the city’s coffers, but all mayors did so
anyway.
2. Climate change is just an idea started by
the environmentalist.
Examples:
3. The so-called school is not recognized

by the Department of Education.
4. The “doctor” was unable to diagnosed

the patient’s illness correctly.
HYPERBOLE
-an extreme kind of exaggeration in
order to produce dramatic effect
Example:
1. It took forever to find you.
2. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
3. He’s as skinny as a toothpick.
4. It’s so hot you could fry an egg on the
sidewalk.
5. I can’t live without you.
LOADED QUESTION
-a question that contains malicious
assumption
Example:
1. Are you still plagiarizing the work of others?
2. Have you stopped beating your wife?
3. Where did you hide the jewels that you
stole?
INNUENDO
-implies something malicious, usually
about a person
Example:
1. The captain is eating with his real wife.
2. I wonder why that beautiful woman got
promoted so many times.
3. Mark’s been spending a lot of time with
Allison, if you know what I mean
4.I’ve found a way to get some “extra help”
on the test.
RIDICULE
-speech or action intended to cause
contemptuous laughter at a person or thing;
derision.
Example:
1. Of course, we should all wear seatbelts,
and we should wear diapers and drink from
bottles, too!
2. Donald Trump wants to build a wall
between here and Mexico. Maybe we should
call it the Great Wall of Hatred.
Examples:
3. You shouldn't drink Starbucks coffee-it
makes you look elitist.
4. Here’s another laughable idea I came
across: the supple of fresh water on earth
will soon run out.
5. Viruses can control the thinking of
higher organisms. You’re kidding, right?
STRAW MAN
- Misrepresenting someone's argument to
make it easier to attack.
Example:
• Opposing argument: Teens should be taught
about contraception methods so they can
practice safe sex should they choose to have
intercourse.
• Straw man argument: Proponents of sex
education want to give kids license to have sex
with no consequences.
Opposing argument: Bicycle
infrastructure should be expanded
because cycling is a sustainable mode
of transportation.
Straw man argument: We should not

build bike lanes because cyclists run red
lights and endanger pedestrians.
PROOF SURROGATE
- is an expression that
suggests there is evidence
to support one's claim without
actually providing any
evidence to support it
Example:
Sandra: “We have evidence, scientific evidence
for evolution [meaning the Big-Bang-Billions-of-
Years-Molecules-to-Man story] I believe in
evolution because of science and reason.”
Roxanne: “You really think you have evidence
that all of that happened?"
Sandra: “Absolutely. We have the rock layers,
the fossils, the distant starlight, thousands of
transitional forms, the genetic evidence, and I
could go on and on.”
but Sandra doesn't have any "physical evidence on
hand" when she's saying these lines

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RHETORIC DEVICE

Arguments based on Rhetoric

1. He’s not unemployed; he’s “between jobs.”

3. The so-called school is not recognized

4. The “doctor” was unable to diagnosed

Straw man argument: We should not

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