highway robbery

American  

noun

1. robbery committed on a highway against travelers, as by a highwayman.

2. Informal. a price or fee that is unreasonably high; exorbitant charge.

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highway robbery British  

noun

1. informal blatant overcharging

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highway robbery Idioms  

1. The exaction of an exorbitantly high price or fee. For example, You paid ten dollars for that meat? That's highway robbery. This term, used figuratively since the late 1800s, alludes to literal robbery of travelers on or near a public road.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• highway robber
  noun

Etymology

Origin of highway robbery

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

Molly got five bucks, and Fred let her know it was frickin’ highway robbery.

From Washington Post • Mar. 18, 2021

“This is highway robbery without a gun. It’s not just us that they’re taking from. It’s our families who struggle to make ends meet and send us money, they are the real victims.”

From The Guardian • Jan. 15, 2018

I really don’t want to go back to the diapers and midnight feedings, etc., not to mention highway robbery of daycare costs.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2015

Shortstop - The offseason trade that sent Jed Lowrie from Boston to Houston looks like highway robbery by the rebuilding Astros.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2012

It seems like highway robbery to take the most beautiful dress you have and the most expensive, too, I am certain.”

From Molly Brown's Junior Days by Speed, Nell