line one's pockets
Take money corruptly
To line one's pockets is to enrich oneself, usually through dishonest or unethical means.
The phrase suggests someone taking money that should go elsewhere—skimming funds, accepting bribes, or exploiting a position of trust: Politicians lining their pockets while infrastructure crumbles.
The image is of stuffing cash into clothing.
- profitGain exceeding expenditure
- cash grabExploitative moneymaking scheme
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- avariceExcessive desire for riches
- graftIllicit political gain
dirty money · embezzlement · fraud · cooking the books · bribery · under the table · cronyism · pay to play · revenue · kickbacks · abuse of power · earnings · payola · self-dealing · insider trading · skimming · extortion · income
line one's pocketsgive away
Provide at no cost
donate · lose one's shirt · philanthropy · redistribute · foot the bill
line, lines, lined, lining, liner, liners, linear, lineage, lineages