A very popular cliché originated from a mechanic at an auto dealership. One of the mechanics was so good at what he did, that his co-workers call him “the doctor” and they referred to all of the vehicles as his patients. He often said that he could tell which of his “patients” were ill by just glancing at them, without even starting them or looking under the hood. After returning to work from a vacation, his co-workers put him to a test. In the very large garage there were about twenty vehicles. All of them were repaired except one, and they asked him to pick it out by just walking up to it. He took the challenge and he strolled up the aisle. Five minutes later he chose a vehicle, but it was the wrong one, and the correct one was right next to it. He immediately said they should still be impressed by how near he was to the right choice. That was when the popular cliché was first stated. It has been slightly changed over the years, but what was originally said by one of his co-workers was “close but no sick car”.
