get taken to the cleaners (by someone)



get taken to the cleaners (by someone)

1. To have a lot or all of one's money taken, swindled, or cheated from one (by someone). I got taken to the cleaners by the IRS after they found out I hadn't been declaring my freelance work on my tax returns. I don't mind you going to some poker tournament with your friends, just don't get taken to the cleaners or anything.
2. To be soundly defeated or bested; to lose by a wide margin. The young team's inexperience is showing on the field today, as they're getting positively taken to the cleaners by the veteran squad.
See also: cleaner, get, taken

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Key[ki:]
Nazarionah-TSAH-ryo (Italian), nah-THAH-ryo (Spanish), nah-SAH-ryo (Latin American Spanish)Italian, Spanish
ShadrachSHAD-rak (English), SHAY-drak (English)Biblical
Augustino-goos-TEN (French)French, Czech, Romanian, Croatian, German
MartenMAHR-tənDutch
Kara (2)-Turkish