The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #132499 Message #4096149
Posted By: Mrrzy
05-Mar-21 - 09:07 AM
Thread Name: BS: Language Pet Peeves
Subject: RE: BS: Language Pet Peeves
Pre-existing is insurance-speak for Existing.
My family used to have the word pre-dread, which we knew was redundant, but referred to a decision to worry-a-lot-about-how-awful-it-would-be so that when it happened, if it was only bad, bad would be a pleasant relief.
Mostly applied to family get-togethers after daddy was killed, but it works for most situations...
Actually the more I think of it the less pre- is useful or not redundant, with a verb. Pre-noun, like the pre-dawn hours, is ok. Hmmm. Good point.
I have not yet seen post to mean after.