teɪk ˈsʌmbədi fɔːr ə raɪd
Money & Finance
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- Taking someone on a car journey
What does "take somebody for a ride" mean?
- To deceive or swindle someone
- To take advantage of someone's trust
Examples
- Don't let that salesman take you for a ride.
- I think we've been taken for a ride with this deal.
- The contractor took them for a ride with overcharges.
Origin
From gangster slang—taking someone 'for a ride' often ended in their murder. Now means any form of deception.
How to use it
Always negative—implies being cheated. Common warning about scams.
Similar expressions
swindle
cheat
deceive
con
rip off
Opposites
be honest with
treat fairly
deal squarely
Related idioms
- pay an arm and a leg
To pay an extremely high price
- make ends meet
To earn just enough money to cover basic expenses
- cost an arm and a leg
To be very expensive
- money doesn't grow on trees
Money is not easily acquired; it must be earned
- break the bank
To cost too much money
- hit the jackpot
To achieve great success or win something valuable
Use it in a practice answer
Try "take somebody for a ride" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.