Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to be subjected to deliberate deception .

1957

W.R. Burnett Underdog 95: Finally Carl appeared and bowed stiffly. ‘A booth, Mr. Moford? No. I’m sorry. Full up. Our busiest time.’ ‘But I see two empty booths back there,’ said Dan, pointing with his cane. Clinch turned away. Dan was getting the treatment. Why couldn’t he see it.

2. to submit to some form of verbal interrogation or telling-off.

1980		F. Gielow Laughter, Love, and a Barbershop Song 86: [He] got the treatment from the trooper, a fellow by the name of Casey Cason. After handing out a real tongue lashing, Casey said he wouldn’t arrest Jim.
2000		G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 127: Randy always had to pick her up there, get the treatment from her father, like where you be takin’ my little girl and shit.
2005		C.D. Campbell Deadly Illusions 20: ‘The cops apparently think the murder was committed by a black male who’s a present or former employee of the hotel.’ ‘So that’s why you got the treatment.’.

1. to have sexual intercourse with.

1968

G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 175: I’m suffering from frustrationitis, how about giving me the treatment on that lovely red rug before the fire in your lounge?

2. to interrogate aggressively; thus to beat up, to torture, usu. in order to elicit information.

1951		C. Stoker Thicker ’n Thieves 263: Despite the fact that I was given the full treatment, I refused to answer questions.
1975		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 172: I do hope he hasn’t given Vera the treatment. One ov her best features, her teeth.
2005		J. Buskey Tinged Valor 26: ‘Officer Gabriel, we’re on to your little game out here and we don’t like it at all. [...]. Don’t force us to give you the treatment!’.