Where does the phrase grease someone’s palm come from?

grease (or oil) someone’s palm This phrase comes from the practice of applying grease to a machine to make it run smoothly. The same expression exists in French as graisser la patte . The form with palm is now predominant but hand appears in the earliest recorded versions of the idiom, dating from the 16th century.

What does it mean to grease someone?

Slang. Grease, a euphemism, meaning, to bribe, as in to grease someone’s palm Grease, a slang term for killing, as in The mob has been known to grease anyone who gets in its way

How do you grease palms?

grease somebody’s palm (old-fashioned, informal) give somebody money in order to persuade them to do something dishonest: Luckily, Mick was able to grease a few palms, thus helping his brother to escape.

What does it mean to get greased up?

to grease (someone) up: to lubricate, to put oil on (someone) verb. Let’s get you greased up (before the show) Let’s put some oil on you (before the show)

What does politician accused of greasing palms mean?

If someone greases an official’s palm, they secretly give money to the official in order to get something that they want. She thought she would not be able to see the files if she did not grease the palms of officials.

What does the saying grease palm mean?

Give someone money in exchange for a favor; also, bribe someone. For example, If you want you luggage to make the plane, be sure to grease the porter’s palm. This term uses grease in the sense of enrich. [ First half of 1500s]

What was some greaser slang?

Greaser – A guy with tons of grease in his hair, which later came to describe an entire group of people. Yes, John Travolta in Grease. Grody – Sloppy, messy or dirty. Hang – As in hang out which means to do very little. Haul ass – Drive very fast (hot-rodders)

What does met his Waterloo mean?

: to be defeated The governor finally met his Waterloo in the last election.

What does grees mean?

greed verb grees, greeing or greed. archaic, or dialect to come or cause to come to agreement or harmony.

What does keep your wig on mean?

To remain calm and composed while waiting for something.

What is meant by turn turtle?

To turn upside down; to flip over. This phrase is often used to describe overturned boats or ships. You need to wear a life jacket because there’s always a chance that the boat could turn turtle.

What is the meaning of a storm in a tea cup?

: a situation in which people are very angry or upset about something that is not important The whole controversy turned out to be a storm in a teacup.

What does being taken to the cleaners mean?

informal. : to deprive (someone) of a large amount of money or possessions I’ll tell you one thing, though: I’m glad I wasn’t paying for it. Kid, they’ll take you to the cleaners.

What is a geyser in British slang?

In the US, geyser is pronounced GUY-zer and has one meaning, a bubbling hot spring that erupts periodically. But in British English, it has two meanings; a geyser can be a hot spring or a water heater. And for both senses of the word, most British speakers rhyme it with geezer.

What does lined mean in the outsiders?

Lone it. To do something or go somewhere alone.

What are 5 slang words used from the 50s?

20 Slang Terms From the 1950s No One Uses Anymore

What is my Waterloo?

meet (one’s) Waterloo To experience a final and resounding defeat. (Napoleon Bonaparte suffered his crushing final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.)

What is a person’s Waterloo?

When a person meets his Waterloo, he has met an insurmountable problem and suffered irreversible defeat. It may be confusing that the victor at the Battle of Waterloo, England, has adopted this phrase to mean defeat.

What is the meaning of the idiom to have an AXE to grind?

phrase. If someone has an axe to grind, they are doing something for selfish reasons. [informal, disapproval]

What is the meaning of Greeze?

A step n. 1. A step. See Gree, a step. The top of the ladder, or first greeze, is this.

What does Gree mean in Scots?

superiority noun Scottish archaic. 1. superiority or victory. 2. the prize for a victory.

Is grees a word?

noun archaic Plural form of gree .