cứa cổ

Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To cut someone's throat: The literal meaning describes the violent act of slashing a person's throat.
   • To overcharge / to rip off / to fleece: The primary figurative meaning is to charge an exorbitant, unfair, or exploitative price for something, causing financial pain to the buyer.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning:
  • Tên cướp dọa sẽ cứa cổ nạn nhân. (The robber threatened to cut the victim's throat.)
• Figurative meaning (to overcharge):
  • Cửa hàng du lịch đó cứa cổ khách nước ngoài. (That tourist shop rips off foreign customers.)
  • Anh thợ sửa xe cứa cổ tôi 2 triệu cho việc thay bình ắc quy. (The mechanic fleeced me 2 million dong for replacing a battery.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is almost always used in a negative, accusatory context to criticize unethical business practices. It implies deliberate exploitation, not just a high price.

Variants and Related Words

• Cắt cổ (verb phrase): A very close synonym meaning "to cut the throat," used identically in both literal and figurative (to overcharge) contexts.
  • Bọn buôn bán ở chợ này cắt cổ người mua. (The traders in this market rip off buyers.)

Synonyms

• To overcharge: To charge too much money.
• To rip off: To cheat someone by charging too much.
• To fleece: To take a lot of money from someone dishonestly.
• To gouge: To charge an excessively high price.

Related Idioms

• Hét giá cắt cổ / cứa cổ: To shout out/quote an exorbitant, throat-cutting price.
  • Người bán hàng rong hét giá cắt cổ. (The street vendor quoted a rip-off price.)