"Are taken to the cleaners" is a colloquial expression that means someone has been completely cheated, swindled, or taken advantage of, typically in a financial sense. This idiom implies that the person or entity has suffered significant losses or has been stripped of their possessions, often resulting in a profound negative impact on their personal or financial situation.
The phrase originated from the practice of taking clothes to a dry cleaner. When clothes are taken to the cleaners, they are thoroughly cleaned, freed from stains and dirt, and returned in a better condition. However, the figurative meaning of the expression is quite the opposite. When someone is taken to the cleaners, they are metaphorically stripped of their resources, much like a piece of clothing being stripped of dirt.
This idiom generally implies that the person was victimized due to their lack of awareness, naivety, or poor judgment. It suggests that the individual was easily manipulated or deceived by another person or a group for personal gain. The phrase often describes situations where the victim ends up losing a significant amount of money, property, or assets, and it conveys a sense of being completely exploited, leaving the person in a disadvantaged position.
Overall, the expression "are taken to the cleaners" reflects a situation where someone is financially or materially exploited, resulting in substantial losses and potentially long-lasting consequences.
