goe3 dou3 jat1 geng2 hyut3鋸到一頸血锯到一颈血
Jyutpinggoe3 dou3 jat1 geng2 hyut3
Yalegeu dou yāt géng hyut
Definition
To be ripped off, cheated, or extorted for a large amount of money.
colloquialmoneyshopping
How it's used
Evokes a visceral image of being fleeced or overcharged to the point of financial injury. It is typically used when someone realizes they have paid an exorbitant price for goods or services, often due to a lack of research or being taken advantage of by a merchant. The intensity of the imagery suggests a significant loss rather than just a minor overpayment.
Examples
Eating at that restaurant really cost me an arm and a leg.
Related words
Common phrases
really got ripped off
Common mistake
Avoid using this phrase in formal business or professional settings, as the imagery is quite graphic and informal. It is strictly reserved for casual conversations among friends or family when complaining about bad deals.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
