1. The Scarlet Letter
Terminology

2. Euphemism
a polite word or phrase, which is used to describe a controversial or indiscreet activity
a substitute word, which is often more politically correct
a euphemistic statement can also be funny, humorous, or witty depending on the context of the statment
can also add a level of vagueness to the statement.

3. Examples of Euphemisms
Pre-owned for used or second-hand
enhanced interrogation for torture
industrial action for strike
misspoke for lie
 tactical withdrawal for retreat
 revenue augmentation for raising taxes 
convenience fee for surcharge
courtesy reminder for bill
unlawful combatant for prisoner of war

4. Metonymy
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated

5. Metonymy
Metonymy is also the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it, as in describing someone's clothing to characterize the individual. Adjective: metonymic.

6. Metaphor or Metonymy
"Metonymy and metaphor also have fundamentally different functions.
Metonymy is about referring: a method of naming or identifying something by mentioning something else which is a component part or symbolically linked.
In contrast, metaphor is about understanding and interpretation: it is a means to understand or explain one phenomenon by describing it in terms of another." (Murray Knowles and Rosamund Moon, Introducing Metaphor. Routledge, 2006)

7. Examples of Metonymy “crown” for royalty
“the bottle” for alcoholic drink
“the press” for journalists
“skirt” for women
“Mozart” for Mozart’s music
“the Oval Office” for the US presidency
“Capitol Hill” for the Congress

8. Metonymy: Using Part an Expression for a Whole (Synecdoche)
Danish for Danish pastry
shocks for shock absorbers
wallets for wallet-sized photos
Ridgemont High for Ridgemont High School
the States for the United States