Definition

1. Adjective (used post-nominally/post-verbally):
   • Exorbitant, extortionate, usurious: Describes a price, cost, fee, or interest rate that is unreasonably and excessively high, to the point of being exploitative or predatory.

Usage

• The term cắt cổ functions as an adjective but is placed after the noun or verb it modifies. It is a strong, informal term implying severe overcharging or exploitation.
• Common structures:
  • Noun + cắt cổ (e.g., giá cắt cổ - exorbitant price)
  • Verb + cắt cổ (e.g., bán cắt cổ - to sell at an exorbitant price)

Usage Examples

• After a noun:

  • Bọn đầu cơ bán gạo với giá cắt cổ. (The speculators sell rice at exorbitant prices.)
  • Khách sạn đó thu phí cắt cổ cho một đêm. (That hotel charges an extortionate fee for one night.)

• After a verb:

  • Hắn ta chuyên cho vay cắt cổ. (He specializes in lending money at usurious rates.)
  • Tiệm đó nổi tiếng vì bán cắt cổ cho khách du lịch. (That shop is famous for selling at rip-off prices to tourists.)

Advanced Usage / Nuances

• The literal meaning of cắt cổ is "to cut the throat," which vividly conveys the sense of being financially bled dry or severely harmed, similar to the English idiom "to charge an arm and a leg" or "to be a rip-off."
• It is often used in contexts criticizing unfair business practices, black markets, or predatory lending.

Variants and Related Words

• Cắt họng: A synonymous, equally informal variant with the same literal meaning ("to cut the throat") and figurative meaning (exorbitant).
• Hớt tóc: Literally "to get a haircut," figuratively means to overcharge or swindle someone, but is generally less severe than cắt cổ.
• Cắt cổ, bóp họng: An intensified phrase combining "cut throat" and "choke the throat," emphasizing extreme exploitation.

Synonyms

• Cắt họng (adj): Exorbitant, extortionate.
• Quá đắt (adj): Too expensive, overpriced (less severe, more neutral).
• Hớt tóc (v): To overcharge, to swindle.

Related Idioms / Phrases

• Giá cắt cổ: An exorbitant/rip-off price.
• Lãi suất cắt cổ: A usurious/loan-shark interest rate.
• Bán cắt cổ: To sell at a blatantly exorbitant price.

1. (dùng phụ sau danh từ, động từ) Exorbitant,usurious
   • bọn con buôn bán với giá chợ đen cắt cổ
     the racketeers sell goods at exorbitant black market prices
   • cho vay cắt cổ
     to lend money at a usurious rate