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1. To rip off somebody (or rip somebody off) is to make them pay too much money for something.
Informal English.
Examples of use:
a) The travel company ripped us off. The cottage we booked for our holiday was a wreck.
b) Don't buy a used car from him – he will rip you off.
c) Our elderly neighbour was ripped off by a builder.
d) News headline: Phone providers 'rip off customers'.
2. To rip off something is to steal it.
Example of use:
a) Our car was ripped off while we were shopping.
b) Someone at this party ripped off my new leather coat!
| infinitive | rip off |
| present simple | rip off and rips off |
| -ing form | ripping off |
| past simple | ripped off |
| past participle | ripped off |
rip-off (noun) something that is overpriced.
Examples of use:
a) Credit card interest charges are a rip-off.
b) This hotel is a rip-off.
rip-off (noun) an illegal or poor-quality imitation or copy. Informal English.
Example of use:
Your jacket is a Ralph Lauren rip-off.
rip-off (noun) an act of stealing.
Image © Dale Ellerm
About Angela Boothroyd
