Meaning of the word "take somebody to the cleaners" in English
What does "take somebody to the cleaners" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
take somebody to the cleaners
US /teɪk ˈsʌmˌbɑː.di tuː ðə ˈkliː.nərz/
UK /teɪk ˈsʌmˌbɑː.di tuː ðə ˈkliː.nərz/
Idiom
1.
to take all of someone's money, especially by cheating them or by winning it from them
Example:
•
The con artist really took him to the cleaners, leaving him with nothing.
•
After the divorce, her ex-husband took her to the cleaners.
2.
to defeat someone completely in a game or competition
Example:
•
Our team really took the opposing team to the cleaners in the final match.
•
He took his opponent to the cleaners in every round of the boxing match.
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