Parrots

When my great grandfather was a cowboy. On his death bed, he held my grandfather's hand and said "I'm going over the Big Ridge. Look after your mama." I doubt the euphamism was his invention, I think it was probably just what they called it at the time - at least on the high plains in the United States. It's an apt metaphor for that part of the country.

Anyway, I got to wondering if there were other regional euphamisms for death or dying. Somthing along the lines of "I'll be sleeping with the 'gators" for Florida maybe?

And while I'm packing them in, another euphamism I like is "pushing up daisies". I think it's British but I'd be interested in its origin if anyone knows it.

There is the vicious euphemism "improved the gene pool" favoured by The Darwin Awards.

Monty Python's the Parrot Sketch is really just a list of such:
He's NOT pining - he's passed on!
This parrot is no more.
He has ceased to be.
He's expired and gone to meet his maker.
It's a stiff.
Bereft of life, he rests in peace.
If you hadn't nailed him to the perch, he'd be pushing up the daisies.
He's off the twig.
He's shuffled off this mortal coil.
He's run down the curtain and joined the bleeding choir invisible
... ...
Vis-a-vis the metabolic processes, he's had his lot.
All statements to the effect that this parrot is still a going concern are henceforth inoperative. This is an EX-parrot.

TheUnlurker

Ooh-ooh! Simulpostings! They're like busses, no-one posts for days and then fourteen come along all at once.

It's enough to make one think to do oneself in.
(Was that English?)

TheUnlurker

The fact that two of you instantly referred to the Parrot Sketch is both frightening and inspiring.

One that I heard in southern West Virginia isn't really a euphemism. It refers to the time period between death and burial. (The body isn't buried immediately -- a "wake" or "visitation" is held in the home or, more commonly now, the funeral home.) "Snow hasn't drifted that deep since John lay a corpse." Others: "No longer with us." "Gone to a better world." "Gone to be with the angels." Asleep in the arms of God." "Crossed over."

I heard someone in WV refer to a death by gunshot: "He got his popcorn." Another violent death reference: "He got his killin' done."

I believe the Salvation Army says their dearly departed are "promoted to glory."