Shortchange Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ต
shortchange
[หสษrtหtสeษชndส ]
Definitions
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
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Interesting Facts
Economics
- Shortchanging is often considered a type of fraud and can lead to legal consequences for businesses.
- This practice can significantly impact customer trust and loyalty if they feel cheated.
- In broader financial contexts, shortchanging can refer to underfunding or insufficiently supporting people or projects.
Psychology
- Being shortchanged can evoke feelings of anger and betrayal, impacting a customerโs emotional state.
- Studies show that perceived unfairness, like being shortchanged, can lead to negative outcomes in mental health and well-being.
- People often remember experiences of being shortchanged more than positive shopping experiences, affecting future behavior.
Cultural Perspectives
- In some cultures, being shortchanged can be seen as a serious offense, leading to public confrontation.
- The concept of fairness in transactions varies globally; in some places, overcharging or underpaying can be commonplace.
- Shortchanging reflects broader societal themes like trust, integrity, and fairness in commerce.
Literature
- In George Orwell's '1984', themes of manipulation and shortchanging of truth are essential to the storyโs critique of totalitarianism.
- Shortchanging appears in various fables and tales, often as a moral lesson about justice and honesty.
- The phrase is used in contemporary literature to symbolize broader societal injustices beyond just financial transactions.
Origin of 'shortchange'
Main points about word origin
- The term 'shortchange' originates from the practice of giving less change than the amount due, especially in transactions.
- First recorded in the early 20th century, the word combines 'short' (meaning less) and 'change' (referring to money returned).
- Its usage has expanded to also mean deceiving someone or giving them less than what is fair.
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.