🌟 Bleed Someone White, To
To extort money, to take someone’s last penny.
Use it in a sentence: “The loan sharks bled him white, leaving him destitute and desperate.”
Origins and Historical Context
The term dates back to the seventeenth century, allegedly coined by gamblers. According to some accounts, once a victim had been made to “pay through the nose” (lose all one’s blood through one’s nose), they’d be bled white. The more plausible explanation, however, is that the saying relates to money being considered the lifeblood of trade and commerce – without it, you’d be as good as drained of life.
Related and Similar Terms:
- Fleece someone
- Bleed someone dry
- Squeeze blood from a stone
- Take someone to the cleaners
Synonyms
- Impoverish
- Bankrupt
- Plunder
- Drain
Antonyms
- Enrich
- Support
- Subsidize
- Finance
Humorous Quotes:
“The only time my wife gave me a penny for my thoughts was to tell me I had no sense.” – Anonymous
Proverbs and Expressions:
- “A fool and his money are soon parted.”
- “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Literature and Media:
- Books: “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens (the art of squeezing the needy)
- Movies: “Catch Me If You Can” (the story of financial deceit)
- Songs: “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits (ideal for those “drained” moments)
- Poetry: “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot (because being drained can be quite wasteland-ish)
### Which of these is a genuine idiom meaning to take someone's money?
- [x] Bleed someone white
- [ ] Milk the green
- [ ] Water the bank
- [ ] Burn the coin
> **Explanation:** "Bleed someone white" is a real idiom meaning to extort money, often to the point of leaving the person destitute.
### Which of the following expressions means "to squeeze out money"?
- [x] Fleece someone
- [ ] Feather the nest
- [ ] Rock the cradle
- [ ] Chase the rainbow
> **Explanation:** "Fleece someone" is a genuine expression meaning to strip someone of money or assets by deceit or force.
### True or False: 'Take someone to the cleaners' is synonymous with 'Bleed someone white.'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Both phrases mean to extort money from someone, often leaving them with nothing.
Here’s a Thought-Provoking Farewell from Your Imaginary Author:
“Money often costs too much.” — Ralph Waldo Elmonopoly, 2023
