loek6 seoi2掠水

Jyutpingloek6 seoi2

Yaleleuhk séui

Definition

To get money by dishonest means, charge excessively, or profiteer.

slangto get money through dishonest means or trickery
slangto charge someone excessively or rip them off; to profiteer

colloquialmoneyshopping

How it's used

The imagery of robbing water suggests draining someone of their resources or wealth until they are dry. It is commonly used to describe businesses or services that impose hidden fees or charge exorbitant prices for basic necessities. While it implies dishonesty or greed, it does not necessarily mean the person is committing a criminal act like theft, but rather exploiting a situation for profit.

Examples

le1呢gaan1間pou3舖tau2頭maai6賣je5嘢gam3咁gwai3貴，baai2擺ming4明hai6係loek1掠seoi2水laa1啦。

This shop sells things so expensively, they are clearly just trying to rip people off.

nei5你m4唔hou2好bei2俾keoi5佢loek1掠seoi2水aa4呀，ceot1出min6面peng4平hou2好do1多㗎。

Don't let them rip you off; it's much cheaper elsewhere.

Common phrases

loek1掠seoi2水hang4行wai4為

profiteering behavior

loek1掠seoi2水hou2好ging6勁

to be very good at ripping people off

Common mistake

Avoid using this word to describe simple theft or robbery, as those are better expressed by 偷 or 搶. 掠水 specifically focuses on the act of extracting money through unfair pricing or deceptive business practices.