grease someone’s palm/fist, to 🤑💵
grease someone’s palm/fist (v.): To bribe someone; also, to give a gratuity. This term has been around since the sixteenth century and apparently a version of it was known even in Roman times, when Pliny the Younger called it unguentarium, translated as “ointment money” (Epistles, ca. A.D. 98). “Wyth golde and grotes they grese my hande,” wrote John Skelton (Magnyfycence, ca. 1529).
Related Terms
- Palm greasing: The process of giving a bribe.
- Sweeten the pot: To make an offer more enticing.
- Oil someone’s wheels: To smooth the way for something to happen, usually with illicit payments.
Synonyms
- Bribe
- Pay off
- Kickback
Antonyms
- Above board
- Honest dealing
- Fair play
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Money can’t buy happiness… but it can certainly grease a few palms!” 😂
Proverbs
- “Money talks, and people walk.” ✨
- “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.” 🤝
Inspirations and References
- Literature: “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare – Human ambition running amok, treachery included.
- Songs: “Money” by Pink Floyd – A groovy critique of materialism.
- Movies: “The Godfather” – A saga of loyalty, power, and bribery.
- Poetry: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – Choosing paths, symbolic of every shady deal that crosses our way.
### Which of these terms is a synonym for “grease someone’s palm”?
- [x] Bribe
- [ ] Compliment
- [ ] Console
- [ ] Applaud
> **Explanation:** To "bribe" someone is to offer them something, usually money, in exchange for influence or action, much like greasing their palm.
### Which phrase means to make an offer more attractive, often with a bribe?
- [ ] Set the table
- [x] Sweeten the pot
- [ ] Seal the deal
- [ ] Tip the hat
> **Explanation:** “Sweeten the pot” means to make an offer more enticing, often through additional incentives, sometimes under the table (hint, bribes!).
### Which proverbs suggest reciprocal arrangements similar to palm greasing?
- [x] You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.
- [ ] Early bird catches the worm.
- [ ] An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
- [x] One hand washes the other.
> **Explanation:** "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" and "One hand washes the other" both indicate mutual benefit arrangements which often hint towards shady deals.
### True or False: Ancient Romans practiced a form of "greasing someone's palm".
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! Even Pliny the Younger in ancient Roman times referred to it as “ointment money,” using tangible rewards to influence decisions.
As we navigate the slippery slope of language and these ancient expressions, let’s remember that some hands require extra soap. Stay ethical and choose the honest route, less greasy yet more fulfilling.
Published by W. T. Showmeyouthmoney, 2023.
Remember, honesty paves a cleaner, more majestic road.
Goodbye! 🚀
