Semantics

As Aldous Huxley recognized in his book "1984," semantics have a lot to do with persuasion. The right word or phrase can often win the day in a political food fight or an advertisement. Here are some recent examples of such for good or for bad:

Little blue pill = Viagra

 The Swamp = Washington, DC

White male privilege = reverse discrimination

Diversity visas = visa lottery

Male enhancement = bigger penis

Dreamers = (often adult) children of illegal immigrants

Principled press = Meryl Streep's idea of newspapers

Leading from behind = following the flow

Undocumented citizens = illegal immigrants

Strategic patience = modern term for lasse faire

Earned Income Tax Credit = a form of welfare using tax refunds for taxes not paid

Performance in the bedroom = sex