have one's hand in the till en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From the most basic form of the crime: a shop assistant removing cash from the register.
Meanings
-
(UK, idiomatic) To embezzle, to steal from one's place of business.
Francis Urquhart: You've been a bit of a bad lad, haven't you, Roger? Roger O'Neill: What? FU: You've had your hand in the till. RO: Francis, you're joking! FU: Your expenses are paid by Central Office, aren't they? But you've been claiming quite large sums from the advertising agency as well. It's a bit naughty, Roger.
1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| has one's hand in the till | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| had one's hand in the till | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| had one's hand in the till | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| having one's hand in the till | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Synonyms
have one's fingers in the till
Translations (2)
fr taper dans la caisse (to steal money that one has been trusted with) · nl uit de kas graaien (to steal money that one has been trusted with)