Definition

1. Noun:

   • A swindle or fraud: A dishonest act or scheme designed to cheat someone, often by tricking them into paying for something worthless or by rigging a game.
   • (British, informal) Pain or trouble: Used to describe something that causes significant annoyance, discomfort, or difficulty.

2. Verb:

   • To swindle or cheat: To deprive someone of money or property through deceit or fraud.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Swindle):

  • The investment turned out to be a complete gyp.
  • He lost his savings in a gambling gyp.

• Noun (Pain/Trouble):

  • This toothache is giving me gyp. (British usage)
  • The old injury started giving him gyp again.

• Verb:

  • The dishonest vendor gypped tourists by selling fake souvenirs.
  • I think the taxi driver gypped me by taking a longer route.

Advanced Usage

• "to give (someone) gyp": (British, informal) To cause someone pain or trouble; to scold or punish someone severely.
  • My back is giving me gyp today.
  • The manager gave the team gyp for their poor performance.

Variants and Related Words

• Gypper (n, informal): A person who swindles others; a cheat.
• Gypping (n/gerund, informal): The act of swindling or cheating.

Synonyms

• Swindle: To cheat someone out of money or property.
• Defraud: To illegally obtain money from someone by deception.
• Con: A confidence trick; to trick someone.
• Rip-off: (Informal) A fraud or a bad deal.

Important Note on Usage

The word "gyp" is considered offensive by many people. It is etymologically linked to the word "Gypsy", a term for the Romani people, and its use perpetuates a harmful stereotype associating this ethnic group with dishonesty and fraud. It is advisable to avoid using this word and instead choose a synonym like "swindle", "cheat", "defraud", or "rip-off".

Noun

1. a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property

Verb

1. deprive of by deceit
   • He swindled me out of my inheritance
   • She defrauded the customers who trusted her
   • the cashier gypped me when he gave me too little change