Stiffed with the bill - Get cut of the fine

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Ali Hsn

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Nov 12, 2013
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Dear natives and teachers,

Could you please tell me the meaning of the following underlined statements?

"If there is fraud on your card that is no fault of yours at all, guess who pays? Most banks shield consumers to have a small or no liability in such cases, merchants who have fraud committed against them are not so lucky. They get stiffed with the bill and they get fined for various things like taking a bad card. The issuing bank usually doesn't pay a cent and possibly gets a cut of the fine."

Do they respectively mean, receiving inadequate amount of money, and receiving some portion of the fine?

Thanks!
 

MikeNewYork

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"Get stiffed with the bill" means receiving no money. Your understanding of the second is correct.
 

probus

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To me "get stiffed with the bill" sounds unnatural. I prefer "get stuck for (or with) the bill."

In my opinion "getting stiffed" is intransitive. Obviously when one gets stiffed there is a bill involved, but it is not explicitly mentioned.
 

MikeNewYork

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"Stiffed with the bill" IS intransitive.
 
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