used-car salesman
noun /ˌjuːzd ˈkɑː seɪlzmən/
/ˌjuːzd ˈkɑːr seɪlzmən/
(plural used-car salesmen)
- (British English) a man whose job is selling cars that have already had one or more owners. Used-car salesmen are often presented in jokes, cartoons etc. as not very honest or reliable. The British television character Arthur Daley is regarded as a typical used-car salesman, i.e. confident and friendly, but dishonest and not very successful. Opponents of US President Richard Nixon used to show his picture with the words, ‘Would you buy a used car from this man?’, suggesting that he could not be trusted.