1) This shopkeeper is a cheater. He weighs less. Correct?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi teacher,

  1. This shopkeeper is a cheater. He weighs less. Correct?

Many thanks in advance.

2

No. The way you have written it means ‘the shopkeeper weighs less’, which I guess you don’t mean.

You mean he has some goods that he is selling, and you’ve asked for a certain amount of goods (that he will weigh to make sure you get the right amount), but he is giving you less than you asked for (cheating you)?

There isn’t a way to shorten it like you have. I think you’d have to say it in a full sentence e.g. He has given me less than I asked for or he has weighed out less than I asked for.

You would say …is a cheat’. as well, not ‘cheater’.

3

I would say

  1. This shopkeeper is a cheater. He uses dishonest weights.

Although most shops now use electronic scales, so this is not really relevant these days.

Another term I have seen is:

  1. This shopkeeper is a cheater. He puts his thumb on the scale.

This means that the shopkeeper presses down on the scale with his thumb to make the weight seem heavier. Once again, I usually read this in older stories, but it may still be used.

4

Thank you, Sir Lucshen & IELTSbuddy.