Mileage, so to speak, is a term used to describe the amount of USE or wear and tear on an item. It is often used to refer to the amount of USE a car has had, but can also be used to refer to the amount of USE any item has had. The crossword solutions for the term mileage, so to speak, are 'ODO' and 'USE'. ODO stands for odometer, which is a device used to measure the distance a vehicle has traveled. USE stands for usage, which is the amount of USE or wear and tear an item has had.