Translation guide
The English idiom 'highway robbery' refers to an outrageously high price or an act of blatant overcharging. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent, but several expressions convey the idea of something being a rip-off, extortionate, or unreasonably expensive.
Expressing that a price is unreasonably high, like being robbed.
A common, casual noun meaning 'rip-off' or 'overcharging'. Often used for tourist traps or dishonest pricing.
This shop is a rip-off.
That taxi was a rip-off.
Passive verb form meaning 'to be ripped off' or 'to be overcharged'. Very natural in conversation.
I got ripped off at that store.
Literally 'a price like you've been robbed'. A vivid, colloquial way to express highway robbery.
Means 'exorbitant price' or 'outrageous price'. More formal and descriptive than ぼったくり.
That's an exorbitant price.
Idiom meaning 'to take advantage of someone's weakness' in pricing, often used when a seller exploits a buyer's urgent need.
Do not translate 'highway robbery' literally as 高速道路強盗 (こうそくどうろごうとう). That would mean actual robbery on a highway, not overpricing.
While 高い (たかい) simply means 'expensive', ぼったくり implies dishonesty or unfairness. Use ぼったくり when you feel cheated, not just when something is pricey.
This bag is expensive, but the quality is good.
This price is like highway robbery.
That store takes advantage of you and sets high prices.
This bag is a rip-off. You can buy the same one for half the price.