Ripping them off
/ˈrɪpɪŋ ðɛm ɔf/
verb phraseB2present participle + object pronoun
Definition
"Ripping them off" is an informal way to say someone is cheating or overcharging other people. It means taking money or goods unfairly, often by tricking or using dishonest ways. People use this phrase when they feel they are paying too much or being treated unfairly in a deal or sale.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Charging too much money unfairly
- •The shopkeeper was ripping them off by asking double the normal price.
- •Tourists often get ripped off in busy market areas.
- •I felt like I was ripping them off when I sold my old phone for a very low price.
Cheating or tricking someone to get money or goods
- •The company was ripping them off by selling fake products.
- •He said the mechanic ripped him off by charging for repairs he never did.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ripping them off" like "cheating," but more about money or value taken unfairly
- ✓Picture someone tearing a piece of paper quickly and roughly—like taking something away suddenly and without care
- ✓It's the feeling when you buy something expensive but later find out it was not worth the price
- ✓Sounds like "rip" (tear quickly) + "off" (remove) → imagine someone quickly taking money away from you like tearing a part of your wallet
- ✓In stories, a "rip-off" is like a trick or scam where someone loses money unfairly
- ✓NOT like "buying" (fair exchange) but "ripping off" means one side loses because of unfairness
- ✓NOT like "stealing" (taking without permission and hiding) but "ripping off" often happens openly in business, just unfairly
- ✓NOT like "discount" (paying less), "ripping off" means paying more than something is worth
Try Other Words
- •Overcharge: charge too much money (Use when the focus is on asking a higher price than fair)
- •Scam: a dishonest plan to trick people (Use when the unfairness involves trickery or fraud)
- •Swindle: cheat someone out of money (Use in more formal or serious cheating situations)
- •Cheat: act dishonestly to get advantage (Use in general dishonest acts, not only money)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "rip" (tear quickly) + "off" (remove, separate)
- •Etymology: English informal phrase from the idea of "tearing away" value or money unfairly
- •Historical development: Used since mid-1900s to describe unfair money taking or cheating
- •Modern usage: Common in everyday speech to describe feeling cheated or overcharged in business or sales
- •Key insight: The phrase gives a strong image of quick, rough taking away of value or money unfairly
Reflect & Connect
•Have you ever felt like someone was ripping you off? What happened, and how did you react?
•Why do you think people use the phrase "ripping them off" instead of just saying "cheating" or "overcharging"?
Fill in the blanks
1.The tourists felt they were ripping them off because the prices were ___ much higher than usual.
2.When a seller is ripping them off, it means they are not giving ___ value for the money.
3.Ripping them off is different from a fair sale because it involves ___ or unfairness.
4.Sometimes people say "stop ripping them off" to warn against ___ others with high prices.
5.The phrase "ripping them off" sounds like someone ___ money quickly and unfairly.
6.After buying the broken phone, he realized the store was ripping them off by ___ for something useless.
7.You can tell a business is ripping them off if customers often ___ or complain about prices.