PhrasesHub

Daylight robbery

    Definitions

      • to describe an instance of theft or extortion that is blatant, obvious, and often done in broad daylight
        To emphasize the audacity and shamelessness of the act, often in a hyperbolic manner, to convey a sense of shock or disbelief at the injustice of the situation

      • to express dissatisfaction or outrage at being charged an excessive or unreasonable amount of money
        To describe a situation where one feels like they have been taken advantage of, often in a commercial transaction, and to convey a sense of being cheated or ripped off

    Examples of Daylight robbery

    • The supermarket charged me $3 for a single avocado. That's daylight robbery!

      "Daylight robbery" is an idiom that means an outrageously high price for a product or service. In this example, the speaker is complaining that the price for an avocado is much too high and is using the phrase "daylight robbery" to emphasize how expensive it is.

    • I paid $200 for a haircut! That's daylight robbery!

      This example is similar to the first, but the individual is complaining about the price they paid for a haircut. They are using the phrase "daylight robbery" to express their disapproval of the high price.

    • This restaurant charges $15 for a side of fries. Daylight robbery!

      In this example, the person is referring to the high price of a side of fries at a restaurant. They are saying that the price is excessive and could be considered "daylight robbery."

    • The hotel room is $500 a night! Daylight robbery!

      Here, the speaker is expressing their disapproval of the high cost of a hotel room. They are using the phrase "daylight robbery" to emphasize how expensive the room is and to suggest that the price is unreasonably high.

    • The restaurant's new menu prices are a daylight robbery.

      The restaurant's new menu prices are extremely high and overpriced, as if the customers were being robbed in broad daylight.

    • The electric company hiked up its rates by 20% in the middle of the summer heatwave. That's a daylight robbery!

      The electric company charging excessive rates for electricity during the heatwave (when air conditioning is a necessity), is comparable to being robbed in broad daylight.

    • The car salesman insisted that the only car available was the most expensive one despite our protests. That's a daylight robbery!

      The car salesman persuading customers to buy the most expensive car, even when they are not willing, is equal to committing a daylight robbery.

    • The taxi driver refused to use the meter and demanded double the fare! That's a daylight robbery!

      When the taxi driver does not switch on the meter and demands inflated amounts, it's akin to robbing someone in broad daylight.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "daylight robbery" is used in two main contexts – to describe an act of theft or extortion that is blatant and done in broad daylight, and to express dissatisfaction or outrage at being charged an excessive amount of money. In both cases, the intention is to convey a sense of injustice and shock at the audacity of the situation.

    In the first context, "daylight robbery" is often used figuratively to describe a situation where someone has been blatantly taken advantage of, often in a forceful or aggressive manner. This can refer to a physical robbery that takes place in broad daylight, but it can also be used to describe any situation where someone has been cheated or wronged in a very obvious and brazen way.

    In the second context, "daylight robbery" is used to express frustration or anger at being charged an exorbitant amount of money for a product or service. This can be in a literal sense, such as being overcharged for an item at a store, or in a more figurative sense, such as being charged an unreasonable amount for a service like plumbing or car repairs. In both cases, the use of the idiom conveys a sense of being taken advantage of and a feeling of being cheated.

    Origin of "Daylight robbery"

    The origin of the idiom "daylight robbery" can be traced back to the 17th century in England. During this time, highwaymen were notorious for committing violent robberies on travelers, often in broad daylight. This phrase was first used in a literal sense to describe these daring and brazen robberies.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to also be used figuratively to describe any situation where someone was being blatantly cheated or wronged. It is believed that this usage originated from the idea that being robbed in broad daylight was seen as a particularly heinous and audacious act, and thus could be used to express shock and outrage in other situations as well.

    Today, the idiom "daylight robbery" is still commonly used in its original figurative sense, although it is also used in its literal sense to describe instances of actual robbery. Its longevity and continued usage show the enduring power of language and how it can evolve and adapt over time.