English Explanatory Dictionary

take to the cleaners

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through overcharging, litigation, unfavorable investing, gambling, fraud, etc.
  2. To thrash someone.

Pronunciation

En-au-take to the cleaners.ogg

Word forms

take to the cleaners takes to the cleaners taking to the cleaners took to the cleaners taken to the cleaners take to the cleaner's

Etymology

A humorous alteration of the older expression to clean (someone) out.

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