Explotar el chollo

[poli]

Does anyone know what this means?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

How about providing some context? :thinking:

[Rusty]

I'm not sure, but applying semantics alone to some of the sentences where I found the phrase being used, it seemed to mean something like "ride the gravy train" (take advantage of an easy, lucrative endeavor). Let's see what others say.

explotar = exploit, work, operate (or explode|blow up)
el chollo = cushy job (or a bargain)

[aleCcowaN]

"Explotar el chollo" seems to be the Spanish version or Argentine "vivir de un curro", that is, having some sort of formal or informal sinecure that provides money without much effort or some tricky way to get good money without exchanging any valuable services or goods.

[poli]

You've got this right AlecCowan. I'm sorry that I was unable to provide more context, but the term was used in a commentary on a article about a fake medical devise. The word in English is to scam or swindle in case you didn't know. Scammer /swindler are corresponding nouns. Incidentally an older term is snake oil and bible salesman a term initiated in the wild west I believe. "Salesmen" would purvey their miracle products to gullible isolated settlers. It's much like politics today.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

ride the gravy train is what it means in Spain. When somebody a very good job for a period of time, or a free of rent house by the shore, etcc.. you explotas el chollo, if you profit from it.