: This is an exceptionally old English idiom dating back to the first half of the 1500s. 📝 Common Sentence Examples
(Usually refers to smoothing out a situation, sometimes without illegal bribery) Oil someone's palm Palm grease (Used as a noun to mean the actual bribe money) Pay a kickback or give a handout ⚠️ Tone and Connotation grease one's palms
"If you want your luggage to make the plane on time, be sure to ." : This is an exceptionally old English idiom
🔍 Meaning and Origin
"Files rarely move in that government office unless you of the clerks." grease one's palms
: 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.