screw someone out of

screw (one) out of (something)

To con, cheat, swindle, or unfairly deprive one out of something that one owns, deserves, or has earned. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "screw" and "over." The referee really screwed us out of a victory with that terrible penalty! He has a very successful business, but his partner screwed him out of everything he'd earned over the years.See also: of, out, screw

screw someone out of

Cheat, deceive, or defraud someone, as in They screwed me out of my overtime pay again. It is often rendered in the passive, be or get screwed , meaning "be cheated, deceived, or defrauded." For example, We're getting screwed by this new income tax regulation. [Slang; c. 1900] See also: of, out, screw, someone