vertically challenged
Not very tall
Vertically challenged is a humorous euphemism for short, modeled on the pattern of disability euphemisms like "physically challenged." The joke lies in treating height as a sensitivity requiring delicate language: At 5'2", I prefer to say I'm vertically challenged.
The phrase gently mocks both short stature and excessive political correctness.
- Napoleon complexOvercompensation for small stature
- short kingBeloved despite low height
- midgetDated slur, small person
- little personPerson with dwarfism
- punySmall and weak
dwarf · heightism · knee high · fun-sized · fun size · short stuff · low to the ground · politically correct · travel-sized · stature · short stature · pocket-sized · humpty · chumpy · build · Tom Thumb · euphemism · proportions
vertical, vertically, challenge, challenged, challenges, challenger, challengers, challenging, vertex