buckraking habit
- noun
- Archaic
- The senator's buckraking habit was exposed by investigative journalists.
Examples
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Many citizens are frustrated by the buckraking habit seen among public officials.
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His buckraking habit eventually led to his resignation from office.
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The senator's buckraking habit was exposed by the media.
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Many politicians develop a buckraking habit over time.
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Many citizens are frustrated by the buckraking habit seen among public officials.
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The senator's buckraking habit was exposed by investigative journalists.
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His buckraking habit eventually led to his resignation from office.
Synonyms
Secret or dishonest actions that try to cheat people
A habit of being dishonest and breaking rules to get money or power
Dishonest behavior in business or money matters
The act of trying to get as much money as possible, often dishonestly
Using a public office to get personal money or benefits
Actions that cheat people to get their money
Antonyms
How Corrupt
Surface Forms
Morphology
buckraking + habit
The head 'habit' is transparent, and 'buckraking' appears to be a nonce compound built from 'buck' (slang for money) + 'raking' (as in 'raking in'), so a learner who knows those constituents could infer a pattern of making money. However the specific sense of doing so by unethical or improper methods (especially by officials) is not directly predictable from the parts, so the overall meaning is only partially recoverable.
Etymology
Buckraking habit gives a picture of someone using a rake to pull in bucks, with buck meaning money and raking meaning gathering again and again. That's why it means a repeated, often 'unethical' way for officials or professionals 'to make money'.