highway robbery
The term "highway robbery" originally described a crime committed on public roads but has evolved to describe situations involving unfairly high prices.
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Definition
C1Historical
(literal)The act of robbing travelers on a public road.
Example
- In the 18th century, highway robbery was a common threat to travelers.
B2Modern
(idiomatic)An excessively high price that is considered unfair.
Example
- Paying $10 for a bottle of water at the concert was highway robbery.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "highway robbery":