Street
collect rent
What does collect rent mean?
To 'collect rent' is underworld slang for shaking down a person or business for regular extortion payments, framed as if it were a legitimate charge.
"Every Friday the crew came around collecting rent from the shopkeepers."
Origin
American underworld slang; ironic use of legitimate 'rent.'
Frequently asked questions
What does 'collect rent' mean in crime slang?
It means to extort regular protection payments from a person or business, dressed up in the language of collecting a legitimate rent.
Why is it called 'rent'?
The term is used ironically. Extortionists frame the recurring shakedown as if the victim were simply paying rent, when in reality it is coerced protection money.
How is it different from a one-time robbery?
Collecting rent is recurring extortion on a schedule, not a single theft. The victim keeps paying to avoid harm to themselves or their business.
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