How do you use "Highway robbery" in a sentence?

$8 for a cup of coffee? That's highway robbery! Hospital bills in America are basically highway robbery. The prices at that tourist trap are highway robbery.

Highway robbery

Q: What does "Highway robbery" mean?

An outrageously high price; blatant overcharging. 'Highway robbery' compares overcharging to being robbed on the road. It's more dramatic than 'rip-off' and is used when prices feel criminal. Americans use it for healthcare bills, parking fees, concert tickets, and any price that feels unjust.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal

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Meaning: An outrageously high price; blatant overcharging.

离谱的高价；明目张胆的宰客。

Un precio escandalosamente alto; cobrar de más de forma descarada.

法外な値段。露骨なぼったくり。

터무니없이 비싼 가격. 노골적인 바가지.

'Highway robbery' compares overcharging to being robbed on the road. It's more dramatic than 'rip-off' and is used when prices feel criminal. Americans use it for healthcare bills, parking fees, concert tickets, and any price that feels unjust.

'Highway robbery'把高价收费比作公路上的抢劫。比'rip-off'更夸张，用于价格感觉像犯罪的时候。美国人用它来形容医疗账单、停车费、演唱会票价以及任何感觉不合理的价格。

'Highway robbery' compara el cobrar de más con ser asaltado en el camino. Es más dramático que 'rip-off' y se usa cuando los precios parecen criminales. Los estadounidenses lo usan para facturas médicas, parking, entradas de conciertos y cualquier precio que parezca injusto.

「highway robbery」は法外な値段を、路上で強盗に遭うことに例えた表現。「rip-off」よりさらに大げさで、犯罪的に感じるほどの価格に使う。アメリカ人は医療費、駐車料金、コンサートチケットなど、不当に感じるあらゆる価格に使う。

'highway robbery'는 과도한 가격 책정을 노상강도에 빗댄 표현이다. 'rip-off'보다 더 극적이며, 가격이 범죄적이라고 느껴질 때 사용한다. 미국인들은 의료비, 주차 요금, 콘서트 티켓 등 부당하게 느껴지는 가격에 이 표현을 쓴다.

Examples

$8 for a cup of coffee? That's highway robbery!
一杯咖啡8美元？简直是明抢！
¿8 dólares por un café? ¡Eso es un atraco a mano armada!
コーヒー1杯8ドル？完全にぼったくりだよ！
커피 한 잔에 8달러? 완전 강도짓이야!
Hospital bills in America are basically highway robbery.
美国的医院账单基本就是明抢。
Las facturas del hospital en Estados Unidos son básicamente un atraco.
アメリカの病院の請求書なんて、もはや強盗と同じだよ。
미국 병원비는 사실상 강도짓이나 마찬가지야.
The prices at that tourist trap are highway robbery.
那个旅游景点的价格纯粹是宰客。
Los precios en esa trampa para turistas son un robo a mano armada.
あの観光地の値段はまさにぼったくりだね。
그 관광지 가격은 정말 바가지 중의 바가지야.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: complaining about prices, consumer outrage, humor

Tone: outraged, dramatic

✓ Do Say

Those prices are highway robbery!
这价格简直是明抢！
¡Esos precios son un atraco!
この値段は強盗だよ！
저 가격은 완전 강도짓이야!
It's highway robbery, I tell you.
我跟你说，这就是明抢。
Es un robo a mano armada, te lo digo yo.
まさにぼったくりだよ、本当に。
강도짓이라니까, 정말이야.

✗ Don't Say

Hyperbolic by nature — used for dramatic effect, not literal robbery
本身就是夸张的说法——用来制造戏剧效果，不是真的在说抢劫
Hiperbólico por naturaleza — se usa para efecto dramático, no se refiere a un robo literal
もともと大げさな表現——誇張効果を狙って使うもので、本当の強盗のことではない
본질적으로 과장된 표현 — 극적인 효과를 위해 쓰며, 실제 강도를 뜻하는 것이 아니다

Origin & History

From literal highway robbery — bandits who robbed travelers on roads. Used as a metaphor for outrageous pricing since the 1800s. Especially resonant in America where certain costs (healthcare, education) are exceptionally high.

Cultural Context

Era: 1800s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal