Taken for a ride

Definitions

• being deceived or cheated
  To be tricked or deceived by someone, often resulting in a loss of money or trust

• being taken advantage of
  To be used or exploited for someone else's benefit, often without realizing it

Examples of Taken for a ride

• The salesman convinced me to buy an expensive car with all the fancy features, but I soon realized that I had been taken for a ride. The car turned out to be a lemon, and I was left with huge repair bills.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone has been deceived or tricked into doing something, often to their disadvantage. In this example, the salesman convinced the buyer to make a purchase that turned out to be a poor investment.

• My friend promised to help me find a job, but instead he took me to a series of interview locations and left me stranded at each one. I felt like I had been taken for a ride.

  This idiom can also be used to describe a situation where someone is led on or misled in some way, often as a result of false promises. In this example, the friend promised to help the person find a job, but instead he used the person as a means to an end, leaving them stranded and disappointed.

• The politicians made a lot of promises during the campaign, but once they were elected, they took the people for a ride. Nothing changed, and they continued with business as usual.

  This idiom can also be used to describe a situation where people believe that they are being led in a certain direction, only to discover that they have been led astray. In this example, the politicians made promises during the campaign, but after they were elected, they failed to follow through, leaving the people feeling disillusioned.

• The gambler bet everything he had on the horse, but instead of winning big, he was taken for a ride. The horse came in last place, and he left the track with nothing but debt.

  This idiom is commonly used in reference to gambling, where someone can be led to believe that they are making a wise investment, only to discover that they have lost everything. In this example, the gambler bet everything he had on the horse, but instead of winning big, he suffered a loss, leaving him in debt.

• The car salesman used his persuasive tactics to take me for a ride and convince me to buy a car that was way beyond my budget.

  To "take for a ride" in this context means to deceive or trick someone into doing something they wouldn't normally do. Here, the salesman used his skills to manipulate the buyer into buying a more expensive car than they could afford.

• The tour guide led us through a maze of back alleys and side streets, taking us for a ride as we missed our intended destination and became hopelessly lost.

  In this case, "taken for a ride" means to be misled or led astray. The tour guide's route took the travelers on an unnecessary detour, causing them to miss their intended destination and become lost.

• The politician made extravagant promises during his campaign, taking the voters for a ride and leading them to believe that he could deliver on his promises.

  This idiom is used to describe someone who makes false promises, leading others to believe that they can deliver on their promises when in reality, they are not capable of doing so.

• The scam artist conned us out of our money, taking us for a ride and leaving us with nothing.

  The phrase "taken for a ride" is often used in the context of scamming or fraudulent activity, where the scammer deceives the victim and leads them to make a mistake or lose money. Here, the scam artist tricked the victims into parting with their money.

Conclusion

The idiom "taken for a ride" can be used to describe situations where someone has been deceived or taken advantage of. It can refer to being tricked or cheated, as well as being used or exploited without realizing it. This idiom is often used to express feelings of being deceived or manipulated.

Origin of "Taken for a ride"

The origin of the idiom "taken for a ride" is not definitively known, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The phrase likely comes from the idea of being taken on a journey or ride, only to realize that it was not what was expected. Over time, the idiom has come to represent being deceived or taken advantage of in various situations. The exact origins of the phrase may be unclear, but its meaning and usage have remained consistent over the years.

Examples:

• She thought she was buying a valuable antique, but she was taken for a ride and ended up with a fake.
• He felt like he was being taken for a ride when he realized that his coworkers were using his ideas without giving him credit.