1 B2 idiomatic informal
To take a percentage or share of money from a deal, often dishonestly or as a hidden commission.
"The manager was raking off ten percent of every contract the company signed."
separable
rake off
B2 informal separable transitive
To remove something with a rake, or to take an illegal or dishonest percentage of money from a deal.
In plain English
To take a secret or unfair cut of some money; or to scrape something away with a rake.
What does "rake off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To remove material (such as leaves or debris) from a surface using a rake.
"He raked off the dead grass to prepare the lawn for new seed."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Dragging a rake across a surface to remove material — pulling things off and away.
Actually means
To take a secret or unfair cut of some money; or to scrape something away with a rake.
Usage tip
The financial sense (taking a dishonest cut) is more common in everyday speech. The noun form 'rake-off' (meaning a corrupt commission) is widely used in journalism. The literal garden sense is much less common.
Words that pair with "rake off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
percentage commission profits leaves debris cut
How to conjugate "rake off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
rake off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rakes off
he/she/it
Past simple
raked off
yesterday
Past participle
raked off
have + pp
-ing form
raking off
continuous
Hear "rake off" in the wild
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