Ripoff

Ripoff
For the video game, see Rip-Off.

A ripoff (or rip-off) is a bad financial transaction. Usually it refers to an incident in which a person overpays for something. A ripoff is distinguished from a scam in that a scam involves wrongdoing such as fraud; whether or not something is a ripoff, on the other hand, is a matter of opinion.

In a related meaning, a ripoff is a blatant or unscrupulous copy or imitation. This is also known as a knockoff. In both senses there is an associated verb "to rip off", but the location of the preposition differs between the two meanings:

In one of his stand up comedy routines, Dennis Miller jokes about seeing an ad in the National Inquirer: "Learn how to avoid ripoffs - send $5."

In South Africa 'ripping off' can be making a joke of something that a person does on a regular basis; see running gag. Another related term is "ripping on" or to "rip on" something; used to describe humorous verbal abuse directed towards a person, thing or concept. Ripping on something is typically light-hearted, but can also be cruel in nature just like any type of putdown.

In musical terminology Ripping Off is a light form of plagiarism, as in 'borrowing' an established riff, phrase or idea from a musician or song. When musicians use the term among themselves they are referring to the context of 'quoting' their influences and incorporating the licks into their personal style

See also


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  • Ripoff Raskolnikov — (* in Linz) ist ein österreichischer Bluesmusiker, Singer Songwriter, und Gitarrist Stark beeinflusst wurde er in seiner Musik durch Bluesgrößen wie Muddy Waters und Skip James, sowie auch von diversen Folkmusikern. Zu Beginn seiner musikalischen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ripoff Report — Infobox Website name = Rip Off Report caption = url = http://www.ripoffreport.com/ commercial = type = Consumer language = English registration = owner = author = Ed Magedson launch date = current status = Online revenue = The Rip off Report… …   Wikipedia

  • ripoff — /rip awf , of /, n. Slang. 1. an act or instance of ripping off another or others; a theft, cheat, or swindle. 2. exploitation, esp. of those who cannot prevent or counter it. 3. a copy or imitation. 4. a person who rips off another or others;… …   Universalium

  • ripoff — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n., slang, deception, swindle. II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) v. Sl. *gyp, thieve, steal, cheat, commit larceny, commit fraud, rob, gouge, swindle, *con, *stiff, *take one to the cleaners, *screw …   English dictionary for students

  • ripoff — n. swindle, deceptive or fraudulent act; exploitive act; one who swindles, cheater; imitation, fake …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ripoff — rip′off or rip′ off n. Slang. 1) cvb sts a theft, cheat, or swindle 2) sts a copy or imitation 3) cvb sts a person who rips off another • Etymology: 1965–70, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • ripoff —  A swindle, scam …   American business jargon

  • ripoff — rip|off sb., et, s (plagiat, efterligning) …   Dansk ordbog

  • ripoff — /rip awf , of /, n. Slang. 1. an act or instance of ripping off another or others; a theft, cheat, or swindle. 2. exploitation, esp. of those who cannot prevent or counter it. 3. a copy or imitation. 4. a person who rips off another or others;… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ripoff artist — n a practitioner of rip offs, fraudster or thief. The late 1960s artist suffix does not denote expertise, but merely habitual involvement …   Contemporary slang

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