on the take
Pocketing dirty money
On the take describes someone, usually a public official or employee, who accepts bribes or illicit payments: Half the police department was on the take.
The phrase implies ongoing corruption rather than a single incident—someone habitually available for purchase.
- bribeIllicit payment for favor
- politicianElected government official
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- cash in handPhysical currency possessed now
- brown envelopeTan paper mailer
indictment · bureaucrat · hush money · integrity · dishonesty · graft · distrust · palm-greasing · pay to play · prosecution · nepotism · collusion · favoritism · extortion · lobbyist · smoke-filled room · envelope · official
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- greedgreed, avarice, covetousness, cupidity, materialism
- payoffsbribe, kickback, payoff, payola, baksheesh
on the takeincorruptible
Impossible to morally compromise
honest · above board · upright · on the level · straight
on the takeby the book
Following established procedures exactly
clean-handed · on the up and up · above suspicion · self-sacrificing · whistleblower
on the takeabove board
Honest and unconcealed
transparent · by the book · legitimate · clean-handed · unimpeachable
the, take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, takeover, takeaway