Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

take to the cleaners

idiom

/teɪk tə ðə ˈkliːnərz/

Definition

To cheat someone out of a lot of money or to take advantage of them financially.

Examples

After realizing he overpaid for the car, he felt like the dealer had taken him to the cleaners.
The scammer managed to take the unsuspecting tourists to the cleaners.

Meaning

This phrase is often used in situations where a person feels they have been swindled or financially exploited, usually in a business context or a personal transaction.