一个人外出旅游，人生地不熟（be a complete stranger in a place），最怕的就是被人“敲竹杠”。
“敲竹杠”是一个汉语俗语，字面意思是“beat the bamboo stick”，用来比喻利用他人的弱点或错误敲诈勒索（fleece，take advantage of somebody’s being in a weak position to overcharge him）。也可以指借机抬高价格，漫天要价（blatant overcharging）。
- 他们大敲游客的竹杠。
They really soaked the tourists. - 这简直是敲竹杠。
This is absolutely daylight robbery. - 这笔生意听起来好像有点像敲竹杠，我不想做这笔买卖。
This sale sounds like sharp practice to me and I want nothing to do with it.
