01
abzocken
to rip off
Colloquial for charging excessive prices or cheating someone out of money.
example
Der Handwerker hat versucht, mich mit der Rechnung richtig abzuzocken.
The tradesman tried to really rip me off with the bill.
abzocken
to rip off
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Meanings
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abzocken' (to rip off) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause. The base verb 'zocken' is colloquial for 'spielen' (to play) or 'wetten' (to bet).
EXAMPLE
Dieser Online-Shop zockt seine Kunden richtig ab.
This online shop really rips off its customers.
Register: colloquial
This word clearly belongs to colloquial language. In formal or written contexts, you should avoid it and use, for example, 'betrügen' (to cheat) or 'überhöhte Preise fordern' (to charge excessive prices) instead.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass du auf dem Touristenmarkt nicht abgezockt wirst.
Be careful that you don't get ripped off at the tourist market.
Use with accusative
The person or institution that is being cheated is always in the accusative. So you rip off 'jemanden' (someone).
EXAMPLE
Er hat mich beim Kartenkauf um 20 Euro abgezockt.
He ripped me off by 20 euros when buying the tickets.
Compare with
abzocken vs ausnehmen
to gut / exclude / rip off
'jemanden ausnehmen' and 'jemanden abzocken' can both mean that someone unfairly takes money from a person or charges far too much. 'abzocken' is very colloquial and sounds direct, often angry too. 'ausnehmen' in this meaning is also colloquial, but can sound a little more figurative: the person is treated as if all their money were being taken away. Learners may confuse the words because both fit fraud or inflated prices. In everyday speech, 'abzocken' is especially typical when complaining about a price or a trap.
abzocken
Vor dem Stadion wurden viele Fans mit viel zu teuren Tickets abgezockt.
Outside the stadium, many fans were ripped off with tickets that were far too expensive.
ausnehmen
Der falsche Berater hat den alten Mann um fast alle Ersparnisse ausgenommen.
The fake adviser ripped off the old man for almost all his savings.
In real life
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