He never married

"He never married" was a phrase used by British obituary writers as a euphemism for the deceased having been homosexual. Its use has been dated to the second half of the 20th century, and it may be found in coded and uncoded forms, such as when the subject never married but was not homosexual. A similar phrase is "confirmed bachelor".[1]

  1. ^ Roberts, Chris (2012). Lost English: Words And Phrases That Have Vanished From Our Language.