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

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Etymology

Origin of gazump

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gazump

Veteran gossip columnist Andrew Hornery grumbled that Wilson had "opted to gazump" his story by sharing the news herself.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2022

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

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

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