TAKE TO THE CLEANERS

v. phr. , slang 1. To win all the money another person has (as in poker). Watch out if you play poker with Joe; he'll take you to the cleaners. 2. To cheat a person out of his money and possessions by means of a crooked business transaction or other means of dishonest conduct. I'll never forgive myself for becoming associated with Joe; he took me to the cleaners.