Explore the phrase 'line one’s pockets,' its historical roots, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance. Delve into its etymology, usage in literature, and contemporary significance.
To “line one’s pockets” refers to the act of acquiring money, often through unethical or dubious means, such as accepting bribes or engaging in corrupt practices.
The phrase “line one’s pockets” is believed to have evolved from the earlier expression “line one’s purse,” which dates back to the early 17th century. The term “line” in this context refers to the act of filling or stuffing, and “pockets” or “purse” denotes a place where money is kept. William Shakespeare’s Othello (Act 1, Scene 1) contains a reference to dishonest servants who “have lin’d their coats,” indicating the use of the phrase in the context of financial gain through deceit. The anecdote regarding a court tailor lining a coat with banknotes for Beau Brummel, though colorful, is not substantiated by historical evidence.
The phrase carries connotations of greed and corruption, often implying that the individual is prioritizing personal financial gain over ethical considerations. It suggests a surreptitious or clandestine accumulation of wealth, typically at the expense of others or through manipulation of a position of power.
In contemporary culture, “line one’s pockets” is frequently employed in discussions of political and corporate corruption. It appears in journalistic accounts of financial scandals and is a common trope in literature and film depicting corrupt officials or businesspersons. The phrase encapsulates societal disdain for unethical enrichment.
In professional contexts, the phrase may be used to critique unethical business practices. In social discourse, it often serves as a condemnation of perceived greed. In literary contexts, it can be employed to develop characters with morally ambiguous traits.
The phrase remains highly relevant in contemporary discourse, particularly in discussions of ethics in governance and business. Its vivid imagery and historical roots contribute to its enduring usage. ★★★★☆
“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; / For I mine own gain’d knowledge should profane, / If I would time expend with such a snipe / But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor: / And it is thought abroad, that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office: I know not if’t be true; / But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety. He holds me well; / The better shall my purpose work on him. / Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now; / To get his place and to plume up my will / In double knavery–How, how? Let’s see:– / After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear / That he is too familiar with his wife. / He hath a person and a smooth dispose / To be suspected, framed to make women false. / The Moor is of a free and open nature, / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by the nose / As asses are. / I have’t. It is engender’d. Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.” - William Shakespeare, Othello (Act 1, Scene 3)