take to the cleaners

verb2

1. •
   (slang) To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through overcharging, litigation, unfavorable investing, gambling, fraud, etc.

   • Dizzy refused to pose with a blonde chorine clad only in step-ins. "No sir," exploded Dizzy. ". . . [M]y wife would take me to the cleaners if she saw a picture like that." — 1934
2. •
   (slang) To thrash someone.

   • One more time, mate, I'll take you to the fuckin' cleaners! — 1979