1
general::
Phrase(s): rake something off (of) something [and] rake something off
to remove something from something by raking. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) • Please rake the leaves off the lawn. • Rake off the leaves., Phrase(s): rake something off
1. to steal or embezzle a portion of a payment or an account. • They claimed that no one was raking anything off and that the money was only mislaid. • The county treasurer was caught raking off some of the tax money. 2. Go to rake something off (of) something.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Make an unlawful profit, as in They suspected her of raking off some of the campaign contributions for her personal use. This expression alludes to the raking of chips by an attendant at a gambling table. [Late 1800s]
American Heritage Idioms