
Pirate
Historical Romanticism
In culture, pirates are often romanticized as adventurous rebels, but historically they were feared.
Pirate stories usually downplay the brutality of historical sea pirates.
Negative Connotation
Using 'pirate' as a metaphor suggests someone is untrustworthy and steals openly.
His rivals called him a business pirate due to his aggressive takeover tactics.
Misleading Stereotypes
Avoid assuming real pirates have parrots or treasure hunts, as popularized in fiction.
Despite what you see in movies, most pirates did not have treasure maps.