To take someone for a ride

Meaning

To deceive or trick someone, often for personal gain.

Origin

Imagine the early days of American road travel, before reliable maps or GPS. A smooth-talking stranger might offer to give you a lift, promising to take you to your destination. But instead, they'd lead you on a wild goose chase, perhaps stealing your luggage or leaving you stranded miles from anywhere. This literal deception on the road, where trust was betrayed during a journey, coined the phrase. It painted a vivid picture of being manipulated and misled, much like being taken on a pointless, untrustworthy excursion. The journey itself became a metaphor for the swindle.