🗓️ Idiom: A Rip-Off (n)
💬 Meaning
- Something that is too expensive for what it is.
- A product, service, or deal that is unfair or dishonest in price or value.
🧠 Example Sentences
- That software subscription was a rip-off—we paid too much for basic features.
- The client felt the contract was a rip-off and refused to sign.
- Be careful with that supplier; they’re known for selling rip-offs.
🏛️ Origin
“A rip-off” comes from the slang verb “rip off,” which means to steal or cheat. It became popular in American English in the 1960s and is now used to describe unfair prices, low-quality products, or dishonest deals in both business and everyday life.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The company paid $5,000 for a website that didn’t work. It was __________.
Answer
a rip-off
2. Choose the correct meaning of “a rip-off”:
A) A great bargain
B) Something unfairly expensive
C) A free offer
Answer
B) Something unfairly expensive
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“The new phone plan charges too much and doesn’t include many features.” → Change the sentence using: a rip-off
Answer
The new phone plan is a rip-off.
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