Pre-owned cars - and other verbal gymnastics.

[A. Secular Human]

Pre-owned cars?

Bullshit.

That's a sleazy obfuscation by one of the most vile kinds of human - the used car salesman.

These warts on the asshole of humanity would like to convince you that the derelict hunk of crap they took in on trade is something you want. Probably not.

Face it - it's a PREVIOUSLY owned vehicle. The prefix "pre" denotes a state of newness - or a thing or event that is yet to come. Pre-owned means nobody has owned it yet. It's new.

So when they try to peddle you that "pre-owned" Ford Granada - tell them you're "pre-screwed" and they can go "pre-fuck" themselves.

Have you an example of this sort of linguistic larceny that annoys you?

Yup...How about dangerous aircraft interactions that are described as a "near miss".  A "near miss" would be an actual collision.  When two aircraft nearly collide, it should be a "near hit"!

Or, how about some vehicles (notably Subaru) who describe themselves as PZEV, for "Partial Zero Emission Vehicle".  Since when can you have partial zero?  It's either zero, or it's not. 

Or, how about those who had a negative experience during a medical procedure and then tell you "I died on the operating table".  Ummmm...no, you didn't, or you'd be worm food about now.

Oh, how I could go on....

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