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I have been looking at cars on ebay and autotrader and some of them having done up to 90k miles can be described as "mint". Is this possible? Surely even a 6 month old car will have at least a few stonechips? Have they just called the chips away folks and then described it as mint?
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Only if it's a Polo!! (before someone else says it... ;-))
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You beat me to it by seconds-must have a HOLE IN THE MIDDLE.
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It's obviously nonsense. 'Mint' means factory-fresh and, by implication unused or as good as. You might be able to make a three-month-old car look and feel (and smell) that good, but not a 90,000-miler.
Perhaps we should add this to the Phrases on eBay that put you off thread - but only if 'mint' is spelt correctly. }:---)
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I would call mint as being in truly excellent condition for its age and usage.
I bought a three year old 72,000 mile Honda Accord several years ago. It had clearly sat on the motorway almost the whole time as the interior was truly almost showroom condition and even the exterior was pretty good.
About six months later my father bought a slightly older Honda Accord which had done 16,000 miles. That was truly showroom condition. Even the engine bay look like new - not steam cleaned - new. We then bought a Honda CR-V with 3,000 miles and 18 months old and apart from dust in the cabin, it was also immaculate.
So yes, cars can be called mint, but they are few and far between and tend to be Hondas bought by Espada's family!!!
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I would call mint as being in truly excellent condition for its age and usage.
That is probably the current usage by traders. It's the same in photography where mint means good condition. It drives me round the twist this abuse of the English language. I think that in correct usage mint means identical to new, perfect, not a mark. As in a freshly minted coin.
Another one that annoys me is "minty". So they have sprayed it with air-freshener then. Big deal.
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I think thatin correct usage mint means identical to new, perfect, not a mark. As in a freshly minted coin.
Exactly. An unused postage stamp is only mint if it has been kept in a cellophane protector and has all its gum intact. Once you stick it in an album with a stamp hinge it is no longer mint.
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According to this dictionary of slang tinyurl.com/2cftzo , in common usage it means "excellent, wonderful" . I don't think you'll find any dictionary defining it as anything better/newer. The key to the definition is ........... it's slang.
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L'escargot.
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I don't think you'll find anydictionary defining it as anything better/newer.
Concise Oxford - "fresh, unsoiled, perfect".
I suppose a car with 96,000 miles could be "fresh" in the Britsh Rail sandwich sense.
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I suppose a car with 96,000 miles could be "fresh" in the Britsh Rail sandwich sense.
So, that'd be a green car then?
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May be "mint" could be correct if you are referring to a brand new car.
If an old car it could be more fairly described as "well above average for the year/mileage".
May be a bit like Madonna - may be 47 yrs old but in good condition for her age - I cannot possibly comment on "the mileage"
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May be a bit like Madonna
SHUDDER puke
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May be a bit like Madonna
Check the bodywork: full of filler.
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Usually when anyone advertises as in mint condition its best to steer clear,seen many advertised like this and they turn out to be in not so good condition
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Steve
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