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How is euphemism used in The Great Gatsby?
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Euphemism in The Great Gatsby is used to discuss taboo or uncomfortable subjects more delicately. For instance, Nick's father refers to "advantages" instead of wealth or education, and Nick calls World War I a "delayed Teutonic migration." Gatsby uses euphemisms when offering Nick a questionable job. These euphemisms reflect the sophistication of the upper class and contrast with Gatsby's less refined speech.
Euphemisms are often used when people are discussing subjects that are generally taboo or uncomfortable, and their use in this text is no exception. For example, Nick tells readers right away, in Chapter 1, what his father once told him:
"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, [...] just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."
Members of the upper class and even the upper middle-class would likely feel that discussing money and the benefits it confers is tacky and taboo, so, rather than say wealth or education or manners, Nick's father simply uses the word "advantages." Nick admits that his family is rather reserved, so he "understood that [his father] meant a great deal more than that." He recognizes the use of euphemism.
Nick, himself, uses a euphemism when he refers to the Great War (known as World...
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War I to us) as a "delayed Teutonic migration." This is a rather mundane-sounding description for what was the most horrific and violent war in history at that point: rather than describe it realistically, which might be painful for Nick, he refers to the war as though it were some holdover from ancient Germanic peoples simply moving from one place to another (and not actually violently invading another country).
Gatsby uses a euphemism later on when he seems to extend a job offer to Nick. However, he is not an original member of the upper classes and so his speech is a little less sophisticated than Nick's, a little clunky. He says,
"[...] you see, I carry on a little business of the side, a sort of sideline, you understand. And I thought that if you don't make very much -- [....] It wouldn't take up much of your time and you might pick up a nice bit of money. It happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing."
Nick realizes that Gatsby is attempting, rather "tactlessly," to involve him in something seedy or, at least, questionable. Gatsby knows not to refer to such topics explicitly, but he suggest that Nick doesn't make much money: a rather vulgar thing to say.