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Glite Dictionary
to gouge on

to gouge on

9.1
Charge someone an unfairly high price
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡaʊdʒ ɑn/
translation icon : cobrar de más
  • The mechanic tried to gouge me on the cost of the repair.

Examples

  • They can't gouge us on price based on that condition.

    Blog text (5)

  • They can gouge them on fees.

    Blog text (5)

  • They can't gouge us on price based on that condition.

    Blog text (5)

  • Some hotels gouge tourists by charging high prices during the festival.

  • Be careful when shopping; some vendors may try to gouge you on the price.

Synonyms

to overcharge
vsto gouge on
18 3.4

To ask someone for more money than a fair price

emphasizes unfair or dishonest excess rather than mere pricing error
to fleece
vsto gouge on
  • Informal
14 8.5

Charge someone too much money

focuses on unfair or dishonest high pricing rather than general swindle
to pluck
vsto gouge on
  • Archaic
14 9.9

To charge someone too much money

highlights dishonest excessive pricing rather than other kinds of fraud
to soak
vsto gouge on
  • Informal
8 8.7

Charge someone much more than a fair price

stresses excessive charging often done unfairly or dishonestly
to gouge
vsto gouge on
  • NSFW
8 8.3

To get money unfairly from someone by forcing them to pay too much

refers to excessive charging often done without physical coercion but dishonestly
to hook
vsto gouge on
  • Informal
7 8.1

To charge someone too much money for something

is the neutral or general term for dishonest excessive pricing
to overbill
vsto gouge on
2 6.1

Charge someone more money than they should pay for goods or services

focuses on unfair high pricing, not only billing mistakes or contract issues
to gouge the customer
vsto gouge on
1 8.2

Charge customers much more than is fair

is the general verb phrase for the same dishonest charging

Antonyms

to discount
36 1.7

To sell something at a lower price than usual

How Expensive

to gouge on
9.1
to rip off
  • Informal
76 6.5
to overcharge
18 3.4
to charge
808 2.0

Surface Forms

gouge on infinitive
gouged on past
gouged on past participle
gouging on present participle
gouges on third person singular

Morphology

gouge + on

The core verb 'gouge' already carries the meaning 'to demand or take money unfairly', and the addition of the common particle 'on' only indicates the target/extension of that action rather than changing the sense. Because the overall meaning is directly derivable from the known verb plus a frequent particle, a B1 learner who knows the constituents would be expected to understand this usage.

Etymology

The verb gouge on comes from the action of gouge — cutting or scooping a deep hole with a sharp tool, and on shows the action is done to something. That image of taking a big, unfair piece explains why gouge on means 'to charge someone an excessively high price'.