Unrelated but genuine question: When did it become vogue to use the word "litigate" in a casual context like you just did, outside of any legal proceedings or the like? Why prefer it over, for example, "debate"?
reply(I first observed it watching a broadcast of JD Vance, but have encountered others effect the same usage since then).
Huh, good question. It's actually a very, very old use – the OED gives examples going all the way back to 1740, apparently (see entry 2b. below.)
replyhttps://www.oed.com/dictionary/litigate_v?tab=meaning_and_us...