gazump

American  

[guh-zuhmp] / gəˈzʌmp /

verb (used with object)

1. to cheat (a house buyer) by raising the price, at the time a contract is to be signed, over the amount originally agreed upon.

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noun

1. an act of gazumping.

gazump British  

/ ɡəˈzʌmp /

verb

1. to raise the price of something, esp a house, after agreeing a price verbally with (an intending buyer)

2. (tr) to swindle or overcharge

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noun

1. the act or an instance of gazumping

Other Word Forms

• gazumper
  noun

Etymology

Origin of gazump

First recorded in 1925–30; earlier gazoomph to swindle, argot word of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

He added that instead of responding, Wilson “opted to gazump the story” by announcing on Instagram that she is dating Agruma ahead of the paper’s publication — a decision Hornery called “underwhelming.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 13, 2022

“Big mistake,” Mr. Hornery said in the deleted column, adding that Ms. Wilson “opted to gazump the story” by revealing her relationship on Instagram first.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2022

One dealership, Nuneaton Cars, said buyers were attempting to gazump each other to get hold of used cars already marked as sold.

From BBC • Aug. 9, 2021

A film about an underground ant colony, it seemed to gazump rival feature "A Bug's Life," which would appear in cinemas only a month later.

From Salon • May 1, 2021

Watford were thought to be in the ol’ hunt for Fiorentina midfielder Mario Suarez, but according to Spanish paper AS Valencia are moving to gazump them.

From The Guardian • Jan. 27, 2016