bilk

/bilk/

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The word "bilk" is a verb that means to cheat or trick someone out of something, especially money. When someone bilks another person, they take advantage of them in a dishonest way.

Usage Instructions:

• Bilk is often used in contexts related to fraud or deception.
• It can be used in both casual conversation and more formal writing, but it is mostly used when discussing illegal or unethical actions.

Examples:

1. "The con artist tried to bilk the elderly woman out of her savings."
2. "He was arrested for attempting to bilk investors by promising high returns."

Advanced Usage:

In advanced usage, bilk can also refer to avoiding something, like a responsibility or obligation, though this is less common. For example: - "She managed to bilk her duties by pretending to be sick."

Word Variants:

• Bilked (past tense): "He bilked his customers last year."
• Bilking (present participle): "They are bilking people through fake online ads."

Different Meanings:

While bilk primarily means to cheat someone out of money, it can also imply avoiding responsibility or evading something.

Synonyms:

• Cheat
• Defraud
• Swindle
• Con
• Dupe

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that directly use "bilk," but related phrases include: - "Pull a fast one": To deceive someone. - "Take someone for a ride": To trick someone, often financially.

Summary:

To bilk someone means to cheat them, particularly in financial matters.

Academic

Verb

1. escape, either physically or mentally
   • The thief eluded the police
   • This difficult idea seems to evade her
   • The event evades explanation
2. evade payment to
   • He bilked his creditors
3. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
   • What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge
   • foil your opponent
4. cheat somebody out of what is due, especially money

Synonyms

• elude
• evade
• thwart
• queer
• spoil
• scotch
• foil
• cross
• frustrate
• baffle