chan the evoker wrote:Minor annoying thing: I heard the phrase "pre-owned car" on the radio. I hate that phrase. Logically it would mean any car one hasn't built oneself, but it's used as a synonym for "used".
I'd like to see someone use that as a defense for stealing a car from a car lot.
"Would you classify the stolen vehicle as a 'pre-owned' car?"
"No, it was new."
"So if someone were to come onto your lot and buy that car, that person would have been the first, or original, owner of the vehicle?"
"Yes."
"Well if that is the case, you cannot claim that your dealership owned the car, even though it was in possession of it. After all, that would make you the vehicle's previous owner, which by your own admission the car could not have."
"...er..."
"If you did not own the car, the car could not be stolen from you, and therefore my client is guilty of no crime. The defense rests."