Trigger words: preposterous
Indicator sentences: preposterous - contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous It does not mean "crazy" or "insane". Using "big words" adds precision to language.
Negotiation parts: Have you never used "crazy" or "insane" to talk about something that would be considered "preposterous"? That isn't the point. The fact is, if I say someone said something "crazy", I don't know if he said: * something truly insane, such as "there is a dragon in my bathroom", which is the true meaning of the word * something preposterous, such as "we should all stop using big words", which is a colloquial meaning of the word * something shocking, such as "I am secretly in love with X", which is another colloquial usage. General words tend to have multiple meanings. "Big words" tend to be more specific.
Trigger words: preposterous
Indicator sentences: Preposterous isn't the same as crazy or insane.
Negotiation parts: Preposterous adds meaning and connotations that neither of those words have. For instance, a student's excuse that his homework was stolen by mimes isn't crazy. There may well be mimes in the area and some mimes have been known to steal. But it is preposterous. On the other hand, it may be crazy to think that the homeless man you've lent a dollar to will pay you back, but it's far from preposterous.