rake off

Related to rake off: Off the rack, raked over

rake off

1. To clear a surface of something, especially leaves, with a rake. Would you go rake off the lawn, please? It's covered in dead leaves!
2. To clean, clear, or scrape something off of some area or surface with or as if with a rake. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rake" and "off." I need to go rake those dead leaves off the sidewalk. The mower doesn't have a bag to catch the clippings, so you have to rake off the grass by hand once you've cut the lawn.
3. To clear something off (of something) with a sweeping motion, as if with a rake. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "rake" and "off." She raked all the documents off the desk in a fit of anger. He took a large cloth and raked off all the dust that had accumulated on the shelf.
4. To make a profit from some illegal, inappropriate, or dishonest transaction. The mayor quickly resigned after it was discovered he was raking off money from the city's budget to help finance his gambling addiction.
See also: off, rake

rake-off

Profits made from a transaction, usually in an inappropriate, illegal, or dishonest way. The mayor quickly resigned after it was discovered he was taking a rake-off from the local cartel's drug sales.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rake something off (of) something

 and rake something off
to remove something from something by raking. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Please rake the leaves off the lawn. Rake off the leaves.
See also: off, rake
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

rake off

Make an unlawful profit, as in They suspected her of raking off some of the campaign contributions for her personal use . This expression alludes to the raking of chips by an attendant at a gambling table. [Late 1800s]
See also: off, rake
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • rake-off
  • clear (something) from (something)
  • clear from some place
  • clear (something) with (someone)
  • clear with
  • crystal clear
  • crystal clear, be
  • be crystal clear
  • clear of
  • clear of (something)
References in periodicals archive
The humble acorn we city folk used to rake off our lawns as a nuisance is gathered widely on our place today.
Stalking the wild acorn
GREAT BRITISH RAKE OFF Now that evening and night time temperatures have already started to fall, the autumn leaves won't be far behind.
FLOWER POWER; GREEN SCENE
"Some of them have been keeping it themselves I understand, and others have been passing it on to claim farmers, that's people that's been directing these poor, sick, unfortunate, elderly miners to these solicitors and they've been having the rake off. It is appalling."
Peer slams lawyer fees
It could, he submitted, siphon off a great deal of money now pressing on goods and services and might also give the Government a "rake off".
Archive
They actually rake off pounds 5 million a week - and in the first year of operation, the figure reached pounds 8 million a week.
Profits without honour
And there are allegations of an even bigger gambling rake off from the semi-final second leg in Russia, when Advocaat's side thrashed hot favourites Bayern Munich to reach the final.
Football: WALT DISNAE GET BRIBE VIBES; Gers boss laughs off Mafia madness Zenit won fair and square says Smith St Mirren v Rangers TODAY, 2PM, SETANTA SPORTS 1
With deeper silt, rake off the excess and use it as a top dressing on beds and the vegetable patch.
Welcoming the first blizzards of spring; Roger Clarke advises on coping with the worst of the weather
If you have a large garden or a lot of trees a leaf blower is one of the best investments you can make and I have noticed on site that whilst no one has ever offered to take the rake off me, there is never a shortage of offers to use the blower.
Take a leaf ..
Don't go raving mad, put the blades on their highest level and make sure you rake off all the grass when you've finished.
GARDENING: Get Mowbile; TRIM LAWNS NOW SPRING IS HERE
The substantial profit they are able to rake off could be used for much needed road improvements in other parts of Wales.
Severn profits
Clubs rake off around pounds 10 for each shirt as well as a hefty retainer from the manufacturing company - in United and Liverpool's case, that amounts to around pounds 60m.
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