May 2016

ENGLISH IDIOM OF THE MONTH:
„To grease someone's palm“

 

MEANING

To make a dishonest payment for someone to do something illegal.

TRANSLATION

Jemandem Schmiergelder bezahlen.
wörtlich: die Palme von jemandem fetten/schmieren.

ORIGIN

The expression comes from grease which was used to turn wheels smoothly. Later the grease changed to money metaphorically.