profiteering off of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "profiteering off of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone making excessive profit from a particular situation, often in a negative context. Example: "The company was accused of profiteering off of the pandemic by significantly raising prices on essential goods."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Trump would be investigated by a US Senate committee in 1954 for profiteering off of public contracts, not least by overestimating his Beach Haven building charges to the tune of $3.7m.

The Guardian - Music

The first of these was the exposure of yet another drug company using profiteering off of sick people as their business model.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Those profiteering off the most vulnerable are nothing if not innovative.

The New York Times

The resident shareholders perceived those who sublet as having escaped, or as profiteering off their building.

The New York Times

"This is people profiteering off sick individuals," Miller said.

Los Angeles Times

How many shoes have to drop in the student loan crisis before Congress will finally do something to stem the flood of student debt and crack down on bad corporate actors who are profiteering off the student debt bubble?

Huffington Post

By expanding to new states, the school would be able to bring in new revenue from outside states, where students may not be aware of legal issues, nor Globe University's reputation of profiteering off the backs of students and taxpayers.

Huffington Post

As I posted in the article, Globe University: Profiteering off the Backs of Students and Taxpayers, Globe University and other Globe Education Network schools offered an institutional student loan called the "Educational Opportunities (EdOp) Loan".

Huffington Post

We need to reverse these trends of public disinvestment, and private profiteering off student debt.

Huffington Post

But we need laws across the world to stop the vulture funds profiteering out of crisis".

The Guardian

Yet they constantly betray their view that profit is suspect (hence "rip-off Britain"; hence "profiteering" in almost any industry where prices are going up, regardless of the extent of competition) and that any activity undertaken for self-interested reasons is tainted (such and such is "too important to be left to the market").

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "profiteering off of", ensure the context clearly indicates unfair or unethical profit-making from a specific situation or group. This will maximize clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "profiteering off of" in situations where profit is made legitimately through standard business practices, as it implies unethical or exploitative behavior. Choose a more neutral term like "benefiting from" or "gaining profit from" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profiteering off of" functions as a verb phrase describing an action. It highlights the act of gaining excessive or unfair profit from a specific situation or entity, often implying unethical behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "profiteering off of" is a verb phrase used to describe the act of making excessive and unethical profits from a particular situation, often involving exploitation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, although it is considered relatively rare. Primarily found in News & Media, the phrase carries a negative connotation and is used to criticize or accuse entities of exploiting vulnerable situations for financial gain. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates unfair or unethical behavior. Alternatives like "exploiting for profit" or "benefiting unduly from" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profiteering from crisis

Specific to profiting during times of difficulty or emergency.

exploiting vulnerabilities for gain

Highlights the unethical nature of taking advantage of weaknesses.

profiting at the expense of

Highlights the negative consequences for others.

benefiting unduly from

Emphasizes unfair or excessive advantage.

exploiting for profit

Replaces neutral term "profiteering" with a more negative connotation of exploitation.

capitalizing on

Focuses on exploiting opportunities for financial gain.

gaining profit from

More general term; lacks the negative implication of exploiting a situation.

taking advantage of financially

Focuses on the financial benefit derived from exploiting a situation.

cashing in on

Informal idiom indicating quick profit from an opportune moment.

making money from

Neutral alternative, lacking the negative implication of exploitation.

FAQs

What does "profiteering off of" mean?

The phrase "profiteering off of" describes the act of making an excessive or unfair profit from a particular situation, often implying exploitation or unethical behavior.

What are some alternatives to "profiteering off of"?

You can use alternatives such as "exploiting for profit", "gaining profit from", or "capitalizing on", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "profiteering off of"?

Use "profiteering off of" when you want to highlight the unethical or exploitative nature of making a profit from a specific situation, particularly when it involves vulnerable individuals or a crisis.

Is "profiteering off of" the same as "benefiting from"?

While both phrases describe gaining an advantage, "profiteering off of" implies a negative connotation of exploitation and unfairness, whereas "benefiting from" is more neutral and does not necessarily suggest unethical behavior.