ripoff
Americannoun
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an act or instance of ripping off another or others; a theft, cheat, or swindle.
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exploitation, especially of those who cannot prevent or counter it.
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a copy or imitation.
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a person who rips off another or others; thief or swindler.
Etymology
Origin of ripoff
First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase rip off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The film can’t shake its lingering scent of “Stranger Things,” but the filmmakers have also turned for inspiration to another iconic ’80s-set property: The whole movie is a “Nightmare on Elm Street” ripoff, with a disfigured killer stalking his prey through their subconscious.
From Los Angeles Times
While it is fun to reconnect with Big Nick and watch him try new foods, there’s just something missing in this rote “Ronin” ripoff — a danger.
From Los Angeles Times
Stokes said that in one common ripoff, thieves are going after people who own timeshares they’re trying to dump.
From Los Angeles Times
Recently, he described this as "possibly the greatest organised ripoff perpetrated on the British people".
From BBC
Most thrillingly, Peacock is doing its own ripoff of NFL RedZone, called Gold Zone, in which it’ll offer live whip-around coverage of “every event happening at a given time,” NBC says.
From Slate
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
