daa2 fu2 tau4打斧頭打斧头
Jyutpingdaa2 fu2 tau4
Yaledá fú tàuh
Definition
To cheat someone by overreporting the price when buying things on their behalf and pocketing the difference.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
Originating from the practice of butchers hiding their axes to manipulate weight measurements, this term now describes any situation where someone inflates the cost of an item they were asked to purchase for another person. It implies a breach of trust and is used exclusively to describe petty corruption or dishonest profiteering in small transactions. You will often hear it used in the context of household chores or office errands.
Examples
Just buy the things for me, don't try to skim money off the top.
He was always skimming money while buying stationery for the company, and eventually got fired.
Related words
Common phrases
skimming money while buying groceries
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general stealing or robbery. It specifically refers to the act of inflating prices or pocketing the difference when acting as an intermediary for a purchase.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
