cross someone's palm

English

Alternative forms

• cross someone's palm with silver

Verb

to cross someone's palm

1. (idiomatic) To give money to a person, especially as a bribe or as an inducement to perform a service.
   • 1910, "Pay to See Barney Statue: Hindu Butler Reaping a Harvest from Washington's Curious Folk," New York Times, 12 Oct., p. 1 (retrieved 8 Apr. 2009):

     For all who cross his palm with silver he condescends to lift the drapery that hides the reclining figure, and the larger the coin the longer the look.

   • 1915, G. Harvey Ralphson, Boy Scouts in Southern Waters, ch. 28:

     "I'd go into a trance and see if I could locate my chum." "You don't have to do that," declared Arnold. "Just cross my palm with a piece of silver and I'll locate him for you."

   • 2004, A. C. Snow, "Wasted lives beckon us to look," News & Observer (USA), 9 May (retrieved 8 Apr. 2009):

     After crossing his palm with a donation, I felt entitled at least to ask where he was from.

Translations

to bribe or induce

Finnish: voidella (fi)

Russian: позолотить ручку (ru) (pozolotít' rúčku) /lit:gild the hand/

See also

• grease someone's palm