grease someone's palm
Offer illicit payment
To grease someone's palm is to bribe them, typically with cash: If you want the permit approved quickly, you'll need to grease a few palms.
The image suggests money as lubricant, making bureaucratic or social machinery run more smoothly.
The phrase usually implies minor corruption rather than major scandal—paying off a bouncer, tipping for preferential treatment, smoothing a transaction that should be free.
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- dirty moneyIllegally obtained wealth
- hush moneyPayment to ensure secrecy
- paymentFulfilling a financial obligation
- cashReady spending funds
brown envelope · payoff · graft · collusion · nepotism · favoritism · fee · persuasion · palm oil · under the table · back room deal · sweetener · looking the other way · influence · money talks · extortion · coercion · blackmail
grease someone's palmplay by the rules
Follow accepted procedures
let the chips fall where they may · wait one's turn · take one's chances · queue up
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