gouge out of

gouge (something) out of (someone or something)

1. To obtain something from someone by deceiving or swindling them. I don't trust that guy—I bet he's trying to gouge your life's savings out of you.
2. To remove something from something else by scraping or scooping. You need to gouge the innards out of the pumpkin first.
See also: gouge, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

gouge something out of someone

to cheat someone out of something. (Compare this with chisel something out of someone.) They gouged the money out of the old man. The crooks gouged the life savings out of the old lady.
See also: gouge, of, out

gouge something out of something

 and gouge something out
to scoop or chisel something out of something. Tom gouged a horrible furrow out of the wood of the piano bench. He gouged out a horrible scratch.
See also: gouge, of, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • gouge (something) out of (someone or something)
  • bet on
  • bet on (someone or something)
  • gouge
  • gouge (something) out
  • confidence
  • confidence game
  • a confidence game
  • (the) smart money is on (someone or something)
  • bet on it
References in classic literature
It's all a rotten game, I know; and my sole kick is that you fellows are squealing now that you're down and labour's taking a gouge out of you.
The Strength of the Strong