The phrase "were taken to the cleaners" is an idiomatic expression often used in informal speech to describe a situation where someone has been financially or otherwise severely exploited, cheated, or swindled. The phrase carries a figurative sense of being completely cleaned out or stripped of one's possessions or resources.
When an individual or a group "were taken to the cleaners," it implies that they have suffered significant financial loss, typically resulting from a deceptive or unfair transaction. The phrase can encompass scenarios such as being overcharged for a service, being misled into making a bad investment or deal, or being manipulated into situations where personal belongings or assets are unlawfully obtained from them.
Furthermore, "were taken to the cleaners" extends beyond monetary contexts to characterize situations in which the victim has been outwitted, tricked, or left in a disadvantageous and vulnerable position. It implies being outsmarted, deceived, or exploited to the maximum extent possible, often leaving the affected party feeling utterly helpless, foolish, and genuinely taken advantage of.
The phrase "were taken to the cleaners" conveys a notion of being completely drained or exhaustively exploited, both financially and emotionally, resulting from a lopsided, unfair, or deceitful encounter. It serves as a vivid metaphor portraying the desolation and loss experienced when one is thoroughly deceived and stripped of their resources or well-being.
