Dictionary

grease payment en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

See lubrication payment § Etymology.

Meanings

1. (US, idiomatic) A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
   • Critics say there is no distinction between extortion and bribery, and that the distinction between a payoff (illegal) and a "grease" payment made to speed along normal duties (legal under the act) is unclear. 1981 July 28, Peter Grier, “US curb on overseas bribes: too prim, or simply proper?”, in Christian Science Monitor, retrieved 09 Apr 2009:
   • An important legal distinction is the difference between bribery and “grease payments,” which are paid in these countries not to affect someone’s decision-making but to speed the process of dealing with government. 2007 October 30, Mike Rast, “Webinar Prepares Local Companies for Cultural Gaps with India, China”, in globalatlanta.com, retrieved 09 Apr 2009:

Forms

Relateds

grease the wheels · palm oil · grease someone's palm

Synonyms

grease · lubrication payment · baksheesh · grease money

Translations (12)

fi voiteluraha (bribe) · id uang semir (bribe) · hu kenőpénz (bribe) · id uang pelumas (bribe) · nl smeergeld (bribe) · ar بَخْشِيش (bribe) · pt propina (bribe) · pl łapówka (bribe) · es coima (bribe) · ota بخشش (bribe) · id uang pelicin (bribe) · tl padulas (bribe)