Dictionary

buy and pay for en · VERB

Etymology

In the sense "bribe, corrupt", the verb is much rarer than and is probably a back-formation from the adjective bought and paid for.

Meanings

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see buy, pay, for.
2. To bribe or corrupt with money from special interests; to obtain by bribery.
   • I presume that the lobbyists of those interests who can afford to buy and pay for special privileges, will read with a great deal of glee that this is now the order of the day. 1952 October 12, Joseph M. Barr, “Letters to the Editor”, in The Pittsburgh Press:
   • The problem was, C.C. had a way of surrounding himself with people he'd bought and paid for, so I suppose you can't really blame him for being a bit confused. 2002, David L. Dukes, The First Black President Blues, →ISBN, page 87:
   • "The Constitution has been eviscerated while Democrats have stood by with nary a whimper. It is gutless, unprincipled party, bought and paid for by the same interests that buy and pay for the Republican Party," wrote Anderson to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, denouncing his affiliation with the party. 2012 October 23, Gail Russell Chaddock, “The 'other' presidential debate: Third-party candidates make their cases”, in Christian Science Monitor:

Forms