The phrase "be taken cleaners" is spelled phonetically as /bi ˈteɪkən ˈkliːnərz/. The first word, "be", is pronounced as the letter "b" followed by the long "e" sound. The second word, "taken", is pronounced as "tay-kin" with the stress on the first syllable. The final word, "cleaners", is pronounced as "kleen-urs" with the stress on the first syllable. This phrase means to suffer a great financial loss or be defeated decisively.
The phrase "be taken cleaners" is an idiomatic expression used mainly in informal contexts, typically in British English, to describe a situation where someone suffers a significant financial loss or is swindled out of a large sum of money by someone else. This phrase suggests a sense of extreme disadvantage or exploitation, implying that the individual has been completely stripped of their wealth or assets, leaving them in a vulnerable and disadvantageous position.
The phrase uses the verb "taken" to convey the act of being deceived or fooled, while "cleaners" implies the totality of the losses, reinforcing the notion of being fully exploited and unscrupulously depleted of resources. It draws elements from the imagery of cleaning, further emphasizing the thoroughness of the financial loss.
This expression is often used to describe situations where individuals have been duped or conned into engaging in fraudulent schemes, fraudulent investments, or unscrupulous financial transactions that result in their depletion of funds. It can also be employed metaphorically in contexts beyond financial losses, indicating a significant defeat or a complete lack of advantage in any given situation.
Overall, "be taken cleaners" is an informal and figurative expression used to emphasize vulnerability, disadvantage, or significant financial loss suffered by an individual due to fraudulent schemes, unscrupulous financial dealings, or other forms of exploitation.