baksheesh
Greasing the palm
Baksheesh is a tip, gratuity, or small payment given to expedite service or curry favor—common in Middle Eastern and South Asian contexts.
The word covers everything from tipping a porter to bribing a minor official.
Western travelers often encounter demands for baksheesh: The guard wanted baksheesh to let us photograph the ruins.
Payment beyond the bill
- tippingPaying beyond the bill
- rewardPayment for service
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- gestureCommunicative body movement
acknowledgment · hospitality · courtesy · bonus · perquisite · honorarium · remuneration · thankfulness
Dishonest abuse of power
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- payoffCulminating benefit received
- graftIllicit political gain
- inducementMotivating factor or offer
sweetener · under-the-table · backhander · grease · extortion · shakedown · squeeze · dash
gratuity
Payment beyond the bill
- tippingPaying beyond the bill
- rewardPayment for service
- appreciationRecognition of worth
gesture · acknowledgment · hospitality · courtesy · bonus · perquisite · honorarium · remuneration · thankfulness · recognition
corruption
Dishonest abuse of power
inducement · sweetener · under-the-table · backhander · grease · extortion · shakedown · squeeze · dash · palm-oil
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- beggarOne who asks for charity
- handoutFree distribution to recipients
- offeringSomething presented or given
pity · compassion · poor · mendicant · street · coins · mercy · destitute · generosity · almsgiving
tradition
Custom passed through generations
etiquette · expected · customary · practice · traveler · tourist · bazaar · haggling · marketplace · ritual
baksheeshsalary
Fixed periodic employment payment
wages · paycheck · stipend · invoice payment · pension
baksheeshearned income
Pay from work
merit-based pay · fair compensation · refusal · integrity · incorruptibility