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Highway robbery
01
an act of overcharging
Dialect
American
American
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "highway robbery" and when to use it?
The idiom "highway robbery" originated from the criminal activity of robbing travelers on the highways or roads, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries. It is used to describe a situation where someone is charged an extremely high price for goods or services, especially when the cost is perceived as unfair or excessive.
Examples
Buying a bottle of water at the amusement park felt like a highway robbery; it was several times more expensive than outside.
02
robbery of travellers on or near a public road
DialectAmerican
AmericanGrammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Plural form
highway robberies
