The phrase "am taken the cleaners" is an idiom that means to be deprived of all or most of one's assets or possessions. In IPA phonetic transcription, it can be written as æm teɪkən ðə klinɜrz. The pronunciation of "cleaners" is transcribed as /ˈklinɜrz/, with a stressed syllable on the second syllable followed by the consonant cluster /nɜrz/. This idiom comes from the idea of someone losing all their money playing cards, where the winner would clean out the loser.
The phrase "am taken the cleaners" is an idiomatic expression used to depict a situation where someone has suffered a significant financial loss or has been cheated out of a considerable amount of money. The phrase is derived from the concept of a dry cleaner or laundry service, where clothes or fabrics are thoroughly cleaned or stripped of any impurities. In this context, the word "taken" signifies being deceived or tricked, while "the cleaners" represents a metaphorical portrayal of being completely stripped of one's financial resources.
When someone says they "am taken the cleaners," it implies that they have been outsmarted or manipulated in an unfair financial transaction, leaving them in an unfavorable and vulnerable position. This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as during discussions about investment losses, gambling mishaps, or instances where an individual falls prey to fraud or deceit. It conveys a sense of being swindled or losing a substantial amount of money unexpectedly.
Overall, the expression "am taken the cleaners" characterizes situations where people find themselves in significant financial distress due to their lack of awareness, poor judgment, or unfortunate circumstances leading to substantial monetary losses.