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Glite Dictionary
to grease the mayor's palm

to grease the mayor's palm

9.8
To give money or gifts to a mayor to get a special favor
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : sobornar al alcalde
  • Rumors spread that he tried to grease the mayor's palm in hopes of securing the contract.

Examples

  • Investigations revealed several businessmen had attempted to grease the mayor's palm over the years.

  • She refused to grease the mayor's palm, believing in fair and transparent processes.

  • Don't grease the mayor's palm if you want to stay out of trouble!

  • He was caught trying to grease the mayor's palm for a contract.

  • Investigations revealed that several businessmen had attempted to grease the mayor's palm to secure favors.

  • Rumors spread that he wanted to grease the mayor's palm in order to win the lucrative contract.

  • She believed it was wrong to grease the mayor's palm, advocating for fair and honest dealings.

Synonyms

to bribe
vsto grease the mayor's palm
140 4.1

Give money or gifts to a person in authority to make them do something dishonest

is an informal phrase that targets one local official for a favor
to grease one's palms
vsto grease the mayor's palm
  • Informal
1 8.5

To give someone money secretly to make them do something for you

is singular act focus rather than a repeated or general practice
to grease someone's palm
vsto grease the mayor's palm
  • Informal
8.1

To give someone money secretly to make them do something for you

is aimed at a specific local official rather than officials in general
to cross one's palm with silver
vsto grease the mayor's palm
  • Archaic
9.3

To give someone money to get a favor, often as a bribe

is a direct idiom for secretly paying a particular local official

Antonyms

honesty
365 1.0

Being truthful and fair in what you say and do

How Illegal

to grease the mayor's palm
  • Informal
9.8
to lobby
100 4.0
to gift
27 2.1

Surface Forms

grease the mayor's palm infinitive
greased the mayor's palm past
greased the mayor's palm past participle
greasing the mayor's palm present participle
greases the mayor's palm third person singular

Morphology

grease + the + mayor's + palm

The literal meanings of 'grease' (to lubricate) and 'palm' (the hand) create a plausible image but do not directly yield the concept of paying money to influence someone; the bribery sense is a metaphorical extension. Some learners might infer a non-literal meaning from the image, but the specific sense 'to bribe an official' is not fully predictable without prior exposure, so this is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Grease the mayor's palm comes from a simple image: imagine putting grease on someone's hand so money can easily slide into the palm of the mayor. That's why it means 'to bribe an official', to give secret money to get a favor.