take to the cleaners
idiomatic phrase
informal
: to deprive (someone) of a large amount of money or possessions
"… I'll tell you one thing, though: I'm glad I wasn't paying for it. Kid, they'll take you to the cleaners. …"—
Danny DeVito
Danny DeVitoThey looked … like the proverbial country bumpkins being taken to the cleaners by the city slickers.—Jay Neugeboren
Jay NeugeborenMany of us have heard the expression, "She took me to the cleaners." This is certainly a popular belief among [divorced] males, but is it really justified?—J. Richard Kulerski
J. Richard KulerskiDictionary Entries Near take to the cleaners
Cite this Entry
“Take to the cleaners.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20to%20the%20cleaners. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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