Shortchange: meaning, definitions and examples
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shortchange
[ ˈʃɔrtˌtʃeɪndʒ ]
financial transaction
To shortchange someone means to give them less money than they are owed or deserve, often in a deceptive manner. It can also refer to any situation in which someone is deprived of an expected amount of value, not just in monetary terms.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The cashier shortchanged me during the transaction.
- He felt shortchanged after receiving only half of his expected refund.
- They were shortchanged on their ticket prices at the concert.
as an injustice
Shortchanging can also refer to taking advantage of someone by not providing the full value of something promised or contracted. This can take place in various contexts, such as services, agreements, and interactions.
Synonyms
overlook, underestimate, undervalue
Examples of usage
- The team felt shortchanged after not receiving their bonus.
- The company shortchanged their employees by cutting benefits.
- She was shortchanged in her salary negotiation.
Translations
Translations of the word "shortchange" in other languages:
🇵🇹 dar troco errado
🇮🇳 कम पैसे देना
🇩🇪 falsch wechseln
🇮🇩 memberi kembalian yang salah
🇺🇦 недодати решту
🇵🇱 dać za mało reszty
🇯🇵 おつりを少なく渡す
🇫🇷 donner trop peu de monnaie
🇪🇸 dar cambio incorrecto
🇹🇷 yanlış para vermek
🇰🇷 거스름돈을 적게 주다
🇸🇦 إعطاء بقايا غير صحيحة
🇨🇿 dát špatnou zpátečku
🇸🇰 dať zlú spätnú väzbu
🇨🇳 找错零钱
🇸🇮 dati napačno drobižno
🇮🇸 gefa rangt afgang
🇰🇿 қате ақша қайтару
🇬🇪 არასწორი ცვლილებების მიცემა
🇦🇿 səhv pul vermək
🇲🇽 dar cambio incorrecto
Etymology
The word shortchange first appeared in the early 19th century. It is a compound word formed by combining 'short', which means 'less than' or 'not enough', and 'change', which refers to money returned after a transaction. The term likely originated in the context of transactions where a buyer or recipient was given less money than they were entitled to. Shortchanging implicates deceit, as it often involves an intent to mislead or cheat the recipient, rather than a simple error in counting. Over time, the usage of 'shortchange' has evolved to encompass both monetary and non-monetary contexts, including instances of being deprived of value, such as in services or personal relationships. Today, it is widely used in discussions about fairness and equity in transactions.