In the passage, the author employs euphemism to soften the criticism of Tom's personality and traits. Phrases like "pretty okay guy," "a bit style-challenged," and "his humor leaves a lot to be desired" serve to downplay the more negative aspects of Tom’s character. Rather than directly stating that Tom lacks style or has poor humor, the author uses gentler language to convey a sense of mildness and relatability. This approach allows the author to communicate criticism while maintaining a lighter and more humorous tone, making it more palatable to the reader. The overall effect is to create a nuanced portrayal of Tom that acknowledges his flaws without being overly harsh.
Tom is a pretty okay guy. Sure, he’s a bit style-challenged, and his humor leaves a lot to be desired—but at the end of the day, if you dropped a twenty on the ground and Tom saw, I’d say there’s a fifty percent chance you’d get it back. How does the author use euphemism?
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