overcharge
overcharge — verb
- overchargepresent simple I / you / we / they
- overchargeshe / she / it
- overchargedpast simple
- overcharging-ing form
1. to require a buyer to pay more for a product or service than the fair or stated
to require a buyer to pay more for a product or service than the fair or stated price, whether by mistake or on purpose
The mechanic overcharged Anjali by two hundred dollars for a simple oil change.
overcharged + person + by + amount
Jessica checked the receipt and realized the store had overcharged her for the winter coat.
overcharged + for + product
Tourists often get overcharged at restaurants near popular landmarks.
The taxi driver tried to overcharge Esteban for the short ride to the airport station.
If a landlord overcharges for utilities, tenants can report it to the local housing office.
- rip off
informal; suggests deliberate cheating rather than a simple mistake
- shortchange
specifically about giving back too little change; the money lost is smaller
- gouge
informal, especially American English; implies an unfairly large overcharge
- undercharge
to charge less than the correct price
文法句型
overcharge + person/entity + for + product/service
overcharge + person/entity + amount
用法筆記
Commonly used with for to name the product or service, and with by to specify the extra amount. The passive form get overcharged is frequent in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. to put too much of something, such as electricity, liquid, or items, into a syst
to put too much of something, such as electricity, liquid, or items, into a system, battery, or container so that it cannot handle the normal level safely
Hiro overcharged the phone battery by leaving it plugged in long after it was full.
overcharge + battery
The extension cord got dangerously hot because Folake had overcharged it with too many appliances.
overcharge + cord/system + with + items
Don't overcharge the portable charger — unplug it once the small light turns green.
Astrid overcharged her backpack with books, and a strap broke on the way to school.
If you overcharge the circuit, the safety fuse will blow and cut the power.
- overload
more general; works for circuits, work, and mental stress
- overfill
specific to putting too much in a container; sounds more natural for bags, cups, tanks
- overburden
formal; suggests adding too much weight or responsibility
文法句型
overcharge + object + with + something
用法筆記
Frequently used in electrical and mechanical contexts (batteries, circuits, fuses). Less common for everyday objects, but can apply to any container or system being filled beyond capacity.