A vehicle that uses fuel inefficiently. The term was popularized in 1978, when Congress instituted “gas guzzler provisions” in the Energy Tax Act enacted during that year. Accordingly, the purchase of such vehicles was taxed in order to discourage their use and decrease fuel consumption. In succeeding decades, the term was applied to any large car, such as an SUV, regardless of whether it was subject to the tax. For example, “With the price of gas going up and up, I’m going to trade in my gas guzzler for a hybrid.”