This may not be an original (or correct) term for this type of language abuse, but it's the one I've always used. You mostly see these terms in advertising and/or marketing. Some examples:
"Up to/as much as x% off," usually formatted as, e.g.,
UP TO 50% OFF!
It's a completely meaningless phrase - "up to 50%" can mean 1%, 5%, or 0.5%, but guess what part of that phrase your eyes go to immediately?
A few months ago, when the Target chain of stores went belly-up here in Canada, they put on a big clearance "sale," advertising "up to 30% off," and people grumbled when there was hardly anything in the store that was actually 30% off! Target only did what stores have been doing for decades, and folks still fell for it. Well, sadder but wiser, eh?
Other examples of this time-tested practice:
"As low as $x.00!" Another meaningless phrase - the price doesn't have to be that low (and most likely isn't), but it could be!
"Starting at $x.00!" A friend of mine actually thought that meant the highest price, and that they went down from there. Dear, dear.
My favourite comedian of all time, the late George Carlin, has lots to say about these types of words, and if you check him out, make sure you catch what he has to say about "chocolatey." It's short, but bang on!
That's all for now. I'm sure there'll be more to come...
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