IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishbe taken for a ride
Meaning: To be cheated or deceived.
Example: “The "miracle" diet pills were chalk; we'd been taken for a ride.”
Origin: Prohibition-era American gangsters took a victim "for a ride" — a one-way drive to be killed. The phrase soon softened into being cheated or conned, the sense that survives.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Se faire rouler dans la farine Literally: To get rolled in flour
Polish: wziąć na bajer Literally: To take on a trick- French: Se faire prendre pour un pigeon Literally: To be taken for a pigeon
More English idioms
- have a heart of gold To be very kind and generous.
- be full of beans To be lively and full of energy.
- get back on one's feet To recover after an illness or a setback.
- keep one's cards close to one's chest To keep one's plans or intentions secret.
- not sleep a wink To not sleep at all.
- work oneself into a lather To become very agitated, anxious or angry.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Sobremesa The unhurried conversation that lingers long after a meal, when no one wants to leave the…
- Gigil The overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something unbearably cute.
- Iktsuarpok The restless anticipation that makes you keep stepping outside to see if someone is final…
Keep exploring