Isn't it odd to think of all the words that we Americans use jon an everyday bsis that are not accepted terms and phrases?  In this essay I will discuss and illistrate why I believe the slang term ripoff should be entered as a ligit word into our English dictionary.   I will compare how this term came about, evolved, and how it is used today in our everyday language.

         I will begin by explaining and defining one of the branch words of this term, rip.  According to the Dictionary of American Slang, in 1772 a rip was "to rave or behave in an outrageous manner".  My definition of this would be the way a bratty child acts.  An example of this definition used in a sentence would be, "I watched the little boy rip for hours untill his parents came home".  Then in 1875 this word evolved to sea terms, a rip  now meant a place in the sea where the water is violently disturbed, usually where opposing tides met.  Then again in 1877 it changed meanings again to mean a stretch of broken water in a river rapid.  Then again, this word changed meanings in 1877, now it meant to permit to run a couse without hinderance, or to let matters go .  An example of this definition in a sentence would be, "Just let him/ her rip".  Or in other words let them do whatever they want.  This can and is still used today.  To continue explaining to word rip there are still several definitions.  There is the common verb form of the word meaning to cut or tear apart, which is definately still in use.  To get a laugh out of you, back in the late 1800's a rip was a dissolute person or an old and worthless horse.  that definition could be what made the term rip off mean a thief.  A theif is old and worthless, maybe like a horse.  Hey, it's just a guess.  Another use of the letters rip is the latin abbreviation R.I.P., meaning requiescat in pace, or commonly to us, rest in peace.  There have been many different definitions for the word rip, and yes there are still more.  According to the Oxford English Dictionary, in the 1960's a rip was a disreputable person, it could also mean a demerit or penalty.  the Thematic Dictionary of American Slang defines a rip as "a thief, which is a person who steals, exploits, swindles, and cheats".  The 1960's definition is what could have led to the meaning of the slang word we commonly use today, because a disreputable person does all those things too, this also is just one of my guesses of how this term came into use.  One more old definition of the word rip was a try or attempt, this was used as a verb.  An example of this in a sentence would be, "Hey, let me have a rip at that".  Now we use phrases like;  take a crack at it, or take a shot at that.  But it all means the same thing.

         Now I will give soem definitions and explanations of the other branch word of my term, off.  This word really doesn't mean much by itself, but I will still explain it.  Off can be used in means of time of distance, for example, something can be a week off or a mile off.  It can also have to do with being attatched or connected, like he shaved off his beard.  Off has also been used as a "state of conscousness"(OED), such as she dozed off while driving.  Another example of e definition can mean something that is "not longer taking place"(OED), like the bride called the wedding off.  As you can see, there are many ways this word can be used and there are many more, but these are just a few.
 Now that I have defined and discussed what these two words seperately mean, now I will begin to discuss the ways these two words put together can mean the slang term ripoff.  This term has been used in various situations.  At first a ripoff was a "person who steals" (OED) , or in other words a person who is a thief.  At this time synonyms for a rip off would be a crood or a scam artist.  An example of how this definition would have been used in a sentence would be, "Our government was full of cheaters, ripoffs, and thieves".  Then in later years the term evolved to mean; a fraud, swindle, an instance of exploitation, especially in financial situations (OED).  This is how I pesonally use the term.  In other words to be cheated out of money, or have money situations that are not fair and just.  In 1974 the Sunday Sun used this definition in a newspaper article by stating, " The great snackbar ripoff that had the city workers weeping into their salad rolls".  Then around the same time this term was also being used as a slang word for an imitation or plagerism, as defined in the Dictionary of American Slang.  Like sombody stole your idea or thought.  A couple examples of how I believe this word could be used in context would be, "She ripped off my idea!", or "What a ripoff!"  This is how I use and apply this term the most.  YOu can often hear me yelling anc complaining of how my roommates and family members stole my idea or my way of doing something.  For example, I thought of a really good excuse to give my parents when I come home late.  One night I came home and I told my parents my brilliant excuse as to why I was home an hour late only to hear, " Sorry, your sister already gave us that one".  Now that's a ripoff!

         Anyone can use this term, I have heard a broad range of people use it, from politicians to my bery own grandmother.  It's  not a set slang word only for the young or the foul mouthed, it's a commonly used phrase for people of all ages.  Granted this phrase is not appropriate to use in all situations, like, Ms. Kelly would not tell her english teacher that she thinks the grade her english teacher gave her was a ripoff.  Also, unless you are and extremely obnoxious and loud person, you would not proclaim that you think your check at a fancy restaraunt is a ripoff.  These would not be appropriate displays of out new term.  Ripoff can be said almost anywhere because it's common.  It's not like the "f" word, or the "b" word, there's no such thing as the "r" word.  It's an internationally accepted term, for the most part.  I know this because through my research in the OED I found that many different peoople have used this term.  I think this is because it' s not considered a swear word, or a completely vile term; it's just another creative way of saying that you think you were cheated.  In soem extreme situations, when somegody feels they were really cheated they may incorporate a hand or arm gesture in accompaniment with saying this term.  This would be a hand or arm flying in the air and perhaps even slamming it down on the tnearest hard surface.  This is somthing that I myself commonly do.

         This term to me has always meant, and I have always used it as a slang expression for getting cheated, or to not get something that I thought I deserved.  Other people who use this term can interprite and incorporate rip off to other situations.  For example, a common pickpocket is a ripoff.  Another discussion Ihave not had yet is the different ways this term can be used.  In the verb sense you could have been ripped off, or in the past participle it would be, to be ripped off.  And even in the active sense you could rip somebody off.  There could even be a rip off artist (somebody who carries out a ripoff, a thief, fraud, or racketeer).  Another person who rips people off is a con artist, this can be used in the same fashion.

         This slang word originated in the United States around 1967.  It was supposedly an African American term, but it evolved it's way into common language.  I think it came into use because peopole in the late 1960's were looking for a word to express thier feelings on people who stole and cheated them.  I'm not sure as to how all the ways rip was used in the past formed into the uses we have for the term today, but if I was to make a guess I would say that being cheated and used turned into a perosn who did all those terrible things.  Eventually leading to mean the people who steal and cheat into situations where you are cheated and stolen from.  All in all something you would not want to happen to you, or not something desirable.

         I can't think of many other slang words that are somewhat equal to ripoff, except for the word "jip" and "swindle".  you could be "jipped" or somebody could "jip you off".  This would be the same definition as being cheated or stolen from, especially when it comes to money.  You could also be swindled.  The way the word swindle would be used differently though.  You could still be "swindled", this also applies to money but not in the same way.  A salesman can swindle their customers into paying more money, or the con artist can swindle their way around or out of something, or get out of it.  I heard a form of this term recently.  My father said, " that lousy salesman swindled $2,000 dollars off me on the new car."  Also my little sister swindles my parents when it comes to the car and her curfew.  This definition is used more as a manipulation.

         I feel extremely strong about this term being entered into standard american english.  For the first thing, it is already widly and commonly used. Secondly, it's needed and could be of great use if it was entered.  This is what I mean, as of right now there is really not a commonly used, accepted way of saying you were cheated.  There may be large, excessive ways of saying it, but not for us common everyday people.  So, as you can see entering rip off into standard american english would not only be smart, it would be beneficial.

Stephanie Schmitt