Taken To The Cleaners

We're all familiar with this expression. If you've lost out badly on a deal, especially if you've been ripped off, you say you've been taken to the cleaners.

But no one thinks for one moment that you've literally been led down to the laundrette and forced to watch a load of washing going round. So, why do we use this phrase? What has being taken to the cleaners got to do with being duped out of a whole wodge of cash?

There's a packet of Persil Non-Bio for the best answer.

Brian: winner!

My local Sketchley once over charged me when I had a pair of moleskin pants cleaned of offending skidmarks, (well they offended Kath but I wasn't too bothered, I could have gotten another weeks wear out of them at least). When I complained to the manager of the store he was very off hand with me so I wrote to Watchdog. I received a letter from Ann Robinson telling me that they were already planning a large expose type prog on Sketchleys as they had already received over 14 calls from around the UK about their overcharging practices. "A national scandal" is how she described this shady practice, "that has been going on for years". That is how the phrase "taken to the cleaners" sprang up, probably, I think.

Phrases And Their Origins

• Taken To The Cleaners
• Minding Your P's And Q's
• Hoist By His Own Petard
• Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey
• Full Of Beans
• Kettle Of Fish
• Resting On Your Laurels
• Bone Up
• The Buck Stops Here
• Forty Winks
• On Tenter Hooks
• Up The Swanee
• Not On Your Nelly
• Stick It Up Your Arse
• Cloud Nine

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Tell your friends. Better still, tell your enemies.

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