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Detailing

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barry1010 | 06:42 Sun 05th May 2024 | Motoring
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When did car valeting become 'detailing', take days and cost hundreds of pounds?

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Never heard that expression, barry. 

It's American. 

It's an expression used by the sort of people who polish the insides of the exhaust pipes.

Very funny miser;-))

One should also bear in mind though that you can't polish a turd.

... but you can roll it in glitter.

It's an American expression & I think I may have helped its UK useage!! 

In the 1970's I worked in Kentucky & helped a friend buy a car, I got speaking to a young guy preparing cars who told me he was grateful to the boss for giving him the chance to become a 'detailer'.

After returning to England I bought a used car myself (a Honda Shuttle) from a dealer in Oxfordshire and once again happened to get talking to the guy there preparing it, I said to him "You know, in the States your job is dignified with a professional name, you are called a 'detailer'. He was impressed.

I did the finance, and started off home but needed to fill the tank, stopped at a garage & couldn't find how to open the petrol tank cover, rang back the dealer's and said, "I've just bought the Honda, stupid I know, but & can't get into the petrol tank, who am I speaking to ? " and he said, "Steve", I said, "Steve?" he "Yes, you know, - 'the detailer'." 

I often think of him when I'm cleaning my car. 😃

a friend who has plenty of dosh has his car "detailed" a couple of times a year - costs about £150 I think.

Valet seems a professional enough name to me. Still we witness loads of Americanisms being adopted to replace proper English these days so while it's sad to witness it's no longer surprising.

The OED shows the earliest recorded use of the verb, "detail" in the sense of cleaning, was in America in 1981.

detailing is a lot more than valeting.

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I blame you entirely, Khandro.

Detailing seems to be for those car fanatics who 'mod' their cars and want them 'concourse' condition.

A concept totally alien to me

Concours. It's Fraunch.

A guy who lives just three doors down from me "details" his car every day. Every day! I kid you not. Tis true folks! 😁 

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My neighbour used to wash his car every day, spent hours poodling it.  Then his wife sadly died and he takes it to the car wash once a week.

I think he was doing to it get out from under her feet, they were both retired.

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