used car salesman
Pre-owned vehicle dealer
A used car salesman sells previously owned vehicles, but the phrase has become shorthand for a certain type of sleazy, high-pressure salesmanship.
Someone described as a used car salesman—whether or not they actually sell cars—is pushy, untrustworthy, and willing to say anything to close a deal: He had the slick charm of a used car salesman.
The stereotype trades on the information asymmetry between seller and buyer, where hidden defects might lurk beneath a fresh wax job.
- dealershipLicensed retail seller
- haggleDispute price persistently
- lotLarge amount or portion
- lemonAcidic yellow citrus
- commissionPayment for services rendered
slick · pushy · trade-in · mileage · as is · fine print · extended warranty · warranty · pitch · negotiate · smooth-talker · test-drive · financing · no money down · odometer · low mileage · certified · pre-owned
- salespeopletelemarketer, pitchman, telesales, cold callers, pitchmen
- smooth talkerssmooth talker, smooth-talker, sweet talker, sweet-talker, fast talker
- fakesfake, fakes, counterfeit, counterfeits, imitation
used car salesmansaint
Canonized holy person
honest broker · straight shooter · truth-teller · fiduciary · Mr. Rogers
used car salesmansurgeon
Physician who operates
judge · professor · diplomat · Nobel laureate · rocket scientist
used, salesman, uses, user, users, usable, usability, unused, misused