ripoff

[rip-awf, -of] /ˈrɪpˌɔf, -ˌɒf/
noun, Slang.
1.
an act or instance of ripping off another or others; a theft, cheat, or swindle.
2.
exploitation, especially of those who cannot prevent or counter it.
3.
a copy or imitation.
4.
a person who rips off another or others; thief or swindler.
Also, rip-off.
Origin
1965-70; noun use of verb phrase rip off

rip1

[rip] /rɪp/
verb (used with object), ripped, ripping.
1.
to cut or tear apart in a rough or vigorous manner:
to rip open a seam; to rip up a sheet.
2.
to cut or tear away in a rough or vigorous manner:
to rip bark from a tree.
3.
to saw (wood) in the direction of the grain.
4.
Digital Technology. to copy (audio or video files from a CD, DVD, or website) to a hard drive or mobile device, typically by extracting the raw data and changing the file format in the process:
Can you rip this CD for me?
See also DAE.
verb (used without object), ripped, ripping.
5.
to become torn apart or split open:
Cheap cloth rips easily.
6.
Informal. to move with violence or great speed:
The sports car ripped along in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes.
noun
7.
a rent made by ripping; tear.
8.
Slang. a cheat, swindle, or theft; ripoff:
The average consumer doesn't realize that the new tax is a rip.
Verb phrases
9.
rip into, Informal. to attack physically or verbally; assail.
10.
rip off, Slang.
  1. to steal or pilfer.
  2. to rob or steal from.
  3. to swindle, cheat, or exploit; take advantage of:
    phony charity appeals that rip off a gullible public.
11.
rip out, Informal. to utter angrily, as with an oath or exclamation.
Idioms
12.
let rip, Slang.
  1. to utter a series of oaths; swear.
  2. to speak or write violently, rapidly, or at great length.
  3. to allow to proceed at full speed or without restraint.
Origin
1470-80; 1960-65 for def 10; obscurely akin to Frisian rippe, dialectal Dutch rippen; compare dialectal English ripple to scratch
Related forms
rippable, adjective
unrippable, adjective
Can be confused
burglarize, mug, rip off, rob, steal (see synonym study at rob)
Synonyms
1. See tear2 . 7. laceration, cut.
British Dictionary definitions for rip off

rip off

verb
1.
(transitive) to tear violently or roughly (from)
2.
(adverb) (slang) to steal from or cheat (someone)
noun
3.
(slang) an article or articles stolen
4.
(slang) a grossly overpriced article
5.
(slang) the act of stealing or cheating

RIP

abbreviation
1.
requiescat or requiescant in pace
Word Origin
Latin: may he, she, or they rest in peace

rip2

/rɪp/
noun
1.
short for riptide (sense 1)
Word Origin
C18: perhaps from rip1

rip3

/rɪp/
noun (informal, archaic)
1.
something or someone of little or no value
2.
an old worn-out horse
3.
a dissolute character; reprobate
Word Origin
C18: perhaps altered from rep, shortened from reprobate
Word Origin and History for rip off

rip

v.

"tear apart," c.1400, probably of North Sea Germanic origin (cf. Flemish rippen "strip off roughly," Frisian rippe "to tear, rip") or else from a Scandinavian source (cf. Swedish reppa, Danish rippe "to tear, rip"). In either case, from Proto-Germanic *rupjan-, from PIE root *reup-, *reub- "to snatch." Meaning "to slash open" is from 1570s. Related: Ripped; ripping.

In garments we rip along the line at which they were sewed; we tear the texture of the cloth. ... Rend implies great force or violence. [Century Dictionary]
Meaning "to move with slashing force" (1798) is the sense in let her rip, American English colloquial phrase attested from 1853. The noun is attested from 1711. The parachutist's rip cord (1911) originally was a device in ballooning to open a panel and release air.

n.

"rough water," 1775, perhaps a special use of rip (v.). Originally of seas; application to rivers is from 1828.

"thing of little value," 1815, earlier "inferior or worn-out horse" (1778), perhaps altered from slang rep (1747) "man of loose character; vicious, reckless and worthless person," which itself is perhaps short for reprobate (n.).

rip off in Science
rip
  (rĭp)   

  1. A stretch of water in a river, estuary, or tidal channel made rough by waves meeting an opposing current.

  2. A rip current.


Slang definitions & phrases for rip off

rip off

verb phrase
  1. To steal: Somebody ripped off my bike
  2. To swindle; defraud; gyp: I don't know who rips us off more, business or government

[1960s+ Black; rip, ''to steal,'' is found by 1200]


rip 1

noun

A debauched and dissolute person; libertine: the proper way to treat a rip

[1797+; perhaps a variant of rep fr reprobate]


rip 2

noun
  1. An official demerit or fine (1939+ Police)
  2. An insult; a disparagement; knock: master of the off-field rip (1940s+)
  3. A joy; a pleasure: What a rip it is to know there are still people who feel for the cars they put together (1970s+)
  4. A try; attempt; crack, ripple, shot: I'll have a rip at that old record (1940s+)
  5. ripoff (1990s+)
verb
  1. To strongly criticize, disparage: William Proxmire who is usually ripped for refusing to bring home the bacon (1857+ British dialect)
  2. (also rip-ass) To speed; barrel, tear: cars rip-assing up and down the street (1853+)
Related Terms

give something a shot, have a crack at something

[all, one way or another, fr rip, ''tear''; third noun sense perhaps related to ripping, ''excellent, first-rate,'' found by 1846]


ripoff

noun
  1. A theft; an act of stealing
  2. A fraud; swindle; scam: The whole arms-reduction policy is a big ripoff
  3. (also ripoff artist) A person or company that steals or swindles: He was the biggest ripoff ever seen, even in Congress (1960s+ Black)

Related Abbreviations for rip off

RIP

  1. raster image processor
  2. reproductive immunophynotype
Idioms and Phrases with rip off

rip off

.
Steal, as in They fired him when they caught him ripping off some of the merchandise.
.
Cheat, defraud, as in These advertising claims have ripped off a great many consumers.
.
Copy, plagiarize, as in He was sued for ripping off someone else's thesis. All three usages are slang from the second half of the 1900s.

rip

also see:
let it rip