바가지를 쓰다 (bagajireul sseuda)

Literally: To wear a gourd

Example: “관광지 식당에서 바가지를 썼다.” — We paid through the nose at a restaurant in the tourist area.

English equivalent: To pay through the nose

Origin: Bagaji is a gourd dipper. Being made to wear the gourd is being overcharged or cheated. Korean dictionaries call the phrase relatively recent; a popular story ties it to a gambling game played with gourds in the 19th century, but this is not documented.