Grease One's Palms May 2026

: To secretly give someone money to persuade them to do something for you.

: The idiom relies on the metaphor of moving parts in a machine. Just as applying grease to a squeaky wheel or stiff engine part reduces friction and makes it move smoothly, giving money to an official makes a bureaucratic process move faster. grease one's palms

This idiom carries a highly connotation. It is associated with corruption, unethical behavior, and unfair advantages. However, in very casual contexts (like tipping a restaurant host for a table when fully booked), it can occasionally be used lightheartedly without implying a serious crime. : To secretly give someone money to persuade

: This is an exceptionally old English idiom dating back to the first half of the 1500s. 📝 Common Sentence Examples This idiom carries a highly connotation