cupid's disease
Definition
- Noun:
- A communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact: "Cupid's disease" is an informal, often euphemistic term for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or sexually transmitted disease (STD). The name alludes to Cupid, the Roman god of love and desire, metaphorically linking the disease to romantic or sexual activity.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The public health campaign aimed to reduce the stigma around discussing Cupid's disease.
- In historical texts, syphilis was sometimes referred to as a Cupid's disease.
Advanced Usage
- The term is considered outdated and euphemistic in modern medical and public health contexts. It is rarely used in clinical settings today, where more precise terms like "sexually transmitted infection (STI)" are preferred.
- It may appear in historical, literary, or informal contexts to describe venereal diseases metaphorically.
Variants and Related Words
- Venereal disease (VD): An older, more clinical term for diseases contracted through sexual intercourse.
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD): A common modern term.
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI): A contemporary term often preferred as it emphasizes the infection before it develops into a disease.
Synonyms
- Venereal disease
- Social disease (another euphemistic term)
- STD/STI
Related Phrases
- While "Cupid's disease" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs, it relates to phrases about transmission and prevention.
- To contract a disease: To become infected with an illness.
- He was worried he might have contracted a Cupid's disease.
Related Idioms
- Cupid's arrow: This idiom refers to falling in love. The term "Cupid's disease" plays on this same mythological reference but with a negative connotation.
- He claimed he was struck by Cupid's arrow, but his friends joked he was more worried about Cupid's disease.
Noun
-
a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact
