highway robbery
[/ˈhaɪweɪ ˈrɑːbəri/]
nounpl: highway robberies
assalto à mão armada na estrada / roubo em via pública
1. The crime of robbing travelers on a public road or highway
In the 18th century, highway robbery was a serious threat to merchants traveling between cities.
No século XVIII, o assalto à mão armada nas estradas era uma ameaça séria para os comerciantes que viajavam entre as cidades.
2. An exorbitant or unfair price charged for goods or services (figurative/informal)
Paying $15 for a coffee is highway robbery!
Pagar R$ 75 por um café é um roubo descarado!
In both American and Brazilian English/Portuguese, this expression has evolved from its historical meaning (robbery of travelers on roads, especially by highwaymen in colonial times) to primarily describe situations where customers feel grossly overcharged. The figurative usage is extremely common in informal contexts and expresses strong disapproval of unfair business practices or inflated prices. It's considered colloquial but widely understood and accepted in casual speech.
NYC Slang
straight-up robbery / getting fleeced / total ripoff
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