buys off
Corrupts with cash
To buy someone off is to secure their silence, cooperation, or withdrawal through payment or favors—essentially, to bribe them: The company tried to buy off the witnesses.
The phrase implies corruption or moral compromise, suggesting the person being bought has abandoned principles for personal gain.
Every politician in the county had been bought off.
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- palm greasingIllicit payment for favors
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
inducement · persuasion · exploitation · extortion · hush money · manipulation · appeasement · looks the other way · compliance · graft · dirty money · negotiation · kickback · slush fund · compromise · exchange · coercion · sweetheart deal