[Ads-l] Euphemism of the Year candidate

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Here is another example from the family of euphemisms using the word
"disassembly" for "explosion". In 1969 "machine disassembly" was used
for a "reactor explosion" in the nuclear power domain.

Date: March 10, 1969
Newspaper: New York Times
Newspaper Location: New York, New York
Article: Books of The Times - The Invisible Menace
Author: John Leonard
Note: Book review of "The Careless Atom" by Sheldon Novick
Quote Page 43, Column 2
Database: ProQuest

[Begin excerpt]
"The Careless Atom" explores the nature of the public's risk, both
from reactor explosion (referred to euphemistically as "machine
disassembly") and radioactive pollution of the environment.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 2:49 PM Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu> wrote:
>
> Oops, I obviously have been leading a sheltered life (thanks to my
> trusty rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation shield).
> Thanks for the clarification, Garson.
>
> There's nothing worse than an unenergetic, dare I say lackadaisical,
> disassembly.
>
> LH
>
> On Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 2:38 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly" is a colorful euphemism. Here is a
> > 2010 tweet with the expression. It has been used in rocketry for a
> > while. Elon Musk used it when discussing a SpaceX explosion in 2015.
> > The nuclear power industry used "energetic disassembly" and "violent
> > disassembly" in the 1970s. I think there are earlier examples with
> > "disassembly", but I do not recall the details.
> >
> > [Begin tweet information]
> > https://twitter.com/firasd/status/25158774692
> > Firas Durri @firasd
> > today I learned my now-favorite euphemism: ‘Rapid Unscheduled
> > Disassembly’ (i.e. explosion)
> > 6:49 PM · Sep 21, 2010
> > [End tweet information]
> >
> > [Begin tweet information]
> > https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/555981841476227072
> > Elon Musk @elonmusk
> > @ID_AA_Carmack Full RUD (rapid unscheduled disassembly) event. Ship is
> > fine minor repairs. Exciting day!
> > 1:56 AM · Jan 16, 2015
> > [End tweet information]
> >
> > Year: 1971 (GB date may be inaccurate)
> > Periodical: Nuclear Science and Engineering: The Journal of the
> > American Nuclear Society
> > Volume 44
> > Page GB 135
> > Database; Google Books snippet match; must be verified with scans of
> > hardcopy
> > https://books.google.com/books?id=-_AWAQAAMAAJ&
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Early in the history of fast reactor design, recognition was given to
> > the potential of meltdown and subsequent compaction of the core,
> > leading, eventually, to an energetic disassembly of the reactor.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Garson
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 1:42 PM Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > a tough one to beat:
> > >
> > >
> > https://wraltechwire.com/2023/04/20/spacex-starship-explosion-rapid-unscheduled-disassembly-before-stage-separation/
> > >
> > > Yup, it underwent a "rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage
> > > separation", a.k.a. an explosion
> > >
> > > LH
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org