in bed with
Corruptly partnered with
In bed with describes a close, often secretive alliance—typically one that suggests corruption or conflicting interests: The senator was in bed with the oil industry.
The phrase draws on the intimacy of sharing a bed to imply relationships that should probably be disclosed or avoided.
It can also refer literally to sexual involvement.
Shared business arrangement
- allianceFormal union of parties
- joint ventureCollaborative business arrangement
- dealAgreement or distribution
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
affiliation · merger · coalition · cahoots · league · cooperation · teamwork · networking
Fraudulent secret cooperation
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
scandal · crooked · shady · underhanded · cover-up · payoff · conflict of interest · insider
partnership
Shared business arrangement
- allianceFormal union of parties
- joint ventureCollaborative business arrangement
- dealAgreement or distribution
arrangement · affiliation · merger · coalition · cahoots · league · cooperation · teamwork · networking · consortium
collusion
Fraudulent secret cooperation
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
kickbacks · scandal · crooked · shady · underhanded · cover-up · payoff · conflict of interest · insider · impropriety