take someone for a ride

take (one) for a ride

1. slang To con, swindle, or deceive one. That get-rich-quick guru took tens of thousands of people for a ride, lining his own pockets with their investments. I can't believe I let that guy take me for a ride like that.
2. slang To take one away in a car to be murdered. A: "What should we do about the witness, boss?" B: "Take him for a ride."
See also: ride, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

take someone for a ride

1. Cheat or deliberately mislead someone, as in Car salesmen will take you for a ride in more ways than one! [Colloquial; c. 1920]
2. Murder someone, as in The gang threatened to take him for a ride. [Slang; 1920] Both usages allude to taking a person for an automobile ride.
See also: ride, someone, take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

take someone for a ride

INFORMAL
COMMON If someone takes you for a ride, they deceive or cheat you. You've been taken for a ride. Why did you give him five thousand francs? Why do I have this sneaking suspicion that he is taking us all for a ride? Note: This expression comes from American gangsters' slang. When gangsters `took someone for a ride', they took them away in a car in order to kidnap them or kill them.
See also: ride, someone, take
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

take someone for a ride

deceive or cheat someone. informal
See also: ride, someone, take
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • take (one) for a ride
  • take for a ride
  • take somebody for a ride
  • take someone for a sleigh ride
  • take (one) for a sleigh ride
  • sucker (one) in
  • sucker someone in
  • put a con on (one)
  • put a con on someone
  • sucker into