taking for a ride
Pulling a con
Taking for a ride means deceiving or swindling someone, often by leading them along with false promises or misleading information.
The phrase evokes the image of someone being driven somewhere under false pretenses, unable to control where they're going.
I trusted that contractor but he was just taking me for a ride.
In its original, darker sense from American gangster slang, it meant kidnapping someone, usually to murder them.
- dupeDeceive or victim
- string alongDeceive by prolonging hope
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- sell someone a bill of goodsDeceive with false claims
exploit · scam · hoodwink · pull the wool over someone's eyes · pull one over · lead astray · manipulate · deceive · victimize · fleece · rip off · con · swindle · cheat · make a monkey out of · fraud · mislead · grift
taking for a rideleveling with
Speaking honestly to
telling the truth · plain dealing · laying cards on the table · keeping it real
taking for a ridelooking out for
acting in good faith · protecting · having someone's back · standing up for
take, taking, taken, takes, taker, takers, ride, rides, ridden