What does “siphon off” mean in English news reports?

A siphon is a tube that moves liquid from one container to another. In English news, “siphon off” borrows that image: someone quietly moves money out of an organization and into their own pocket, without permission. You will see this phrase most often in stories about fraud, corruption, or missing public funds. The image of a hidden tube makes the dishonesty easy to picture.

In this report, the Minnesota attorney general accuses two former directors of “siphoning more than 6 and a half million dollars away from the nonprofit” — moving grant money meant for young people into their own pockets over five years. The accused reportedly spent it on luxury cars, trips to Las Vegas, and private business expenses. You will find this phrase in business and political news: “executives siphoned off company funds,” “officials siphoned millions from the aid budget.” The tone is always negative — it suggests secrecy and dishonesty, not an open transfer. It fits news and formal writing, so you are unlikely to hear it in everyday conversation, but you will read it often in articles about financial wrongdoing.