to take somebody to the cleaners
to take somebody to the cleaners
01
to defeat a person or a group thoroughly, often in a very humiliating manner
![to [take] {sb} to the cleaners definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/39973/original/?type=jpeg "to [take] {sb} to the cleaners definition and meaning")
Disapproving
Idiom
Exempel
The experienced lawyer secured a great deal, taking the opposing party to the cleaners during negotiations.
02
to take someone's possessions by force or without the right to do so
![to [take] {sb} to the cleaners definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/43961/original/?type=jpeg "to [take] {sb} to the cleaners definition and meaning")
DisapprovingIdiom
InformalExempel
Last year, the scammer took dozens of people to the cleaners with his investment fraud.
