No More Used Cars

No More Used Cars No More Used Cars No More Used Cars By Maeve Maddox Time was, a car that no longer belonged to its original owner was a used car. Clothing that had changed hands was second-hand clothing or, in a family, hand me downs. Not anymore. Apparently, in our consumer society, thrift is still practiced, but admitting to it is not cool. Old clothes are now sold in consignment shops, not second-hand stores. Used cars are advertised as previously owned. but now even that euphemism may be on its way out. This week I received an advertising mailer offering deals on reprocessed cars. At first I thought the printer had made a mistake for repossessed. Apparently the company sending the mailer anticipated such a reaction because a definition was thoughtfully provided: Reprocessed Vehicle (noun) A late model pre-owned vehicle that has undergone a 27-point interior and exterior mechanical and safety inspection and conditioning and has been warranted for reliability. British writer David Rowan offers several more euphemisms for the embarrassing word used : pre-enjoyed, previously cared for, and experienced. Rowan has gathered a fascinating list of very scary euphemisms from serious news stories. Many of the expressions are U.S. coinages. The Pentagon seems to be an especially prolific contributor to the class of words that fall upon the facts like soft snow, blurring the outlines and covering up all the details. See how close you can come to what these euphemisms are supposed to mean. fiscal underachiever HRP immediate permanent incapacitation NBC suit real-time precipitation situation sidewalk counseling toy soldier urban camping welcome station wildlife conservation park Check your answers against Rowans list (Update: link no longer online). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What is the Difference Between "These" and "Those"?The Six Spellings of "Long E"20 Names of Body Parts and Elements and Their Figurative Meanings