English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Take for a ride
Meaning
The idiom "take for a ride" means to offer someone an opportunity or experience that they may enjoy, but which is actually a ploy to manipulate them or extract something from them. It can also mean to subject someone to a difficult or unpleasant situation in order to test their loyalty or endurance.
Usage
- The politician promised to take the voters on a ride with his campaign promises, but he failed to deliver on any of them.
- My friend convinced me to take her for a ride on the rollercoaster at the fair, but I regretted it as soon as we got there.
- The CEO took the new employee on a ride by assigning him to work on a high-profile project and then ignoring him during meetings.
- When my car broke down, the tow truck driver took me for a ride by charging me triple the standard rate for the service.
- I warned my friend not to take the job offer from the company, but he was too eager to ride the gravy train of success.
Roots and History
The idiom "take for a ride" has been in use since the early 20th century. It is believed to have originated in the early days of the automobile industry when car dealerships would offer test drives to potential customers, but would actually drive them around in a dilapidated or unsafe vehicle in order to sell them on a newer model. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has broadened beyond just the automotive industry. It is now used in a variety of contexts, including politics, business, and relationships.
Synonyms in English
- Offer someone an opportunity or experience that they may enjoy, but which is actually a ploy to manipulate them or extract something from them.
- Subject someone to a difficult or unpleasant situation in order to test their loyalty or endurance.
- Convince someone to do something by offering them a reward or incentive.
- Manipulate someone into doing something they don't want to do by promising them a reward or incentive.
- Use someone for personal gain by pretending to offer them an opportunity or experience that they may enjoy, but which is actually a ploy to extract something from them.
Synonyms in other languages
- English: "Take for a ride" - Spanish: "Subir al coche" - French: "Avoir une escapade en voiture" - German: "Fahren auf einer Fahrt mit dir machen"
- English: "Convince someone to do something by offering them a reward or incentive" - Spanish: "Cuajarlo para que haga algo" - French: "Le convaincre de faire quelque chose en lui offrant un récompense ou une incitation" - German: "Ich versuche ihn, etwas zu tun zu machen, indem ich ihm ein Belohnung oder eine Anreiz anbiete"
- English: "Manipulate someone into doing something they don't want to do by promising them a reward or incentive" - Spanish: "Manipularlo para que haga algo que no quiere hacer" - French: "Manipuler quelqu'un pour qu'il fasse quelque chose qu'il ne veut pas faire en lui offrant une récompense ou une incitation" - German: "Ich versuche ihn, etwas zu tun zu machen, indem ich ihm ein Belohnung oder eine Anreiz anbiete, um ihn dazu zu bewegen, etwas zu tun, das er nicht will"
- English: "Use someone for personal gain by pretending to offer them an opportunity or experience that they may enjoy, but which is actually a ploy to extract something from them" - Spanish: "Usarlo para obtener algo personal engañándolo de una oportunidad o experiencia que le gusta" - French: "Utiliser quelqu'un pour obtenir quelque chose personnel en lui faisant croire qu'il allait avoir une opportunité ou une expérience qu'il aime" - German: "Ich verwende ihn, um etwas Personales zu gewinnen, indem ich ihm verspreche, eine Oportunität oder Erfahrung anbieten, die er genießt"
- English: "Subject someone to a difficult or unpleasant situation in order to test their loyalty or endurance" - Spanish: "Someterlo a una situación difícil o desagradable en orden de evaluar su lealtad o su resistencia" - French: "Le sommer à une situation difficile ou agréable en vue d'évaluer sa loyauté ou sa résistance" - German: "Ich stelle ihn einem schwierigen oder unangenialen situation vor, um seine Treue oder Härte zu prüfen"