# Why can't I say "I am going to kill the President"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-say-i-am-going-to-kill-the-president/313591>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 22, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-say-i-am-going-to-kill-the-president/313591 "2005-07-22T04:08:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-say-i-am-going-to-kill-the-president/313591/21 "2005-07-23T21:55:13Z")

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> [@Balthisar](#):
>
> This seems as good a place as any to ask: what about languages where the word “bomb” and “pump” is the same? Like, say, I’m a bicycler, and I’m talking about how I have my “bomba” in my luggage. Or I’m a fireman, so I say I’m a “bombero.”

After dropping the “bomb” bomb, expect the Secret Service to “pump” you for information. 😉

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**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-say-i-am-going-to-kill-the-president/313591/22 "2005-07-24T20:44:36Z")

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I used to do camera work in the DC area, and we taped many politicians (go figure). I also had a gig at the White House for a day, which was fun.

Of course, in production, we’d think nothing of saying, “I’m going to shoot the President today” or “I’m off to shoot Congressman xxxx” – until the words were out of our mouth and we realized what they’d sound like to anyone not used to production lingo.

:smack:

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