Cadillac converter

English

WOTD – 4 July 2023

Etymology

From the similarity between catalytic and Cadillac (“brand of luxury automobile”), probably originally a mondegreen (“error arising from the mishearing of a phrase”) and used humorously to allude to the high cost of catalytic converters.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkædɪlæk kənˈvɜːtə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkædəˌlæk kənˈvɝtɚ/, [-ɾɚ]
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: Ca‧dil‧lac con‧vert‧er

Noun

Cadillac converter (plural Cadillac converters)

1. (chiefly Southern US, malapropism, nonstandard, often humorous) Synonym of catalytic converter (“chamber containing a finely divided platinum catalyst in which carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust are oxidized to carbon dioxide”)
   • 1992, Ricardo Cortez Cruz, “The Bloods and the Crips, Starring Billy Bugle Boy”, in Straight Outta Compton, Normal, Ill., Boulder, Colo.: University of Colorado; Fiction Collective Two, →ISBN, page 65:

     Anyway, wherever he was, all he ever talked about was Cadillac converters and pipe. His work with pipe paid off when he was awarded the honor of "Repairman of the Week."

   • 2008, Gilbert A. Knowles, “Why Listen to Me?”, in Help Them Pull Their Pants Up: How Mentors and Communities Can Empower Young African American Men, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, →ISBN, part I (The Preamble), page 28:

     He then asked, “What is a Cadillac converter?” At this point, I'm thinking he doesn't know much about cars; therefore, I went on to explain. From the look on his face, I knew he was setting me up for an attack. He replied, "The proper words are catalytic converter."

   • 2011 November, Robert Hartwell Fiske, “cadillac”, in Robert Hartwell Fiske’s Dictionary of Unendurable English: A Compendium of Mistakes in Grammar, Usage, and Spelling with Commentary on Lexicographers and Linguists, revised edition, New York, N.Y.: Scribner, →ISBN, page 86:

     We were a strong competitor throughout the competition, but then the Cadillac converter fell off, which hurt our emissions and place in the overall standings.

Translations

synonym of catalytic converter — see catalytic converter

Further reading

• catalytic converter on Wikipedia.Wikipedia