highway robbery

noun

1. robbery committed on a highway against travelers, as by a highwayman.
2. Informal. a price or fee that is unreasonably high; exorbitant charge.

highway robbery

noun

1. informal.
   blatant overcharging

Other Words From

• highway robber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of highway robbery¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Idioms and Phrases

The exaction of an exorbitantly high price or fee. For example, You paid ten dollars for that meat? That's highway robbery . This term, used figuratively since the late 1800s, alludes to literal robbery of travelers on or near a public road.

Example Sentences

Higher distribution costs on the back of widespread crime including highway robberies, plus increased weather-related issues like floods and drought, are also driving price rises, he said.

From Reuters

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh tweeted: “Our ties must not be hampered by deeply shortsighted miscalculations, including highway robbery on the command of a 3rd party.”

From Reuters

Empyreal’s lawsuit described the traffic stops of their armored cars as “highway robberies” by law enforcement agencies seeking to fund their operations with cash taken through forfeiture.

From Los Angeles Times

Empyreal’s lawsuit describes the traffic stops of their trucks as “highway robberies” by government agents seeking to pad their budgets with forfeiture money.

From Los Angeles Times

Under the circumstances, refusing to submit to such instances of D.C. “highway robbery” could be a legitimate act of civil disobedience.

From Washington Post