VOA词汇掌故2022--How Dirty Is 'Greasing Someone's Palm'?

How Dirty Is 'Greasing Someone's Palm'?

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples and notes on usage.

Today we talk about something that sounds dirty because it is – to grease someone's palm.

When we grease someone's palm, we give them money, or something else valuable, to get what we want. Simply put, it is an act of bribery¹. For example, if someone greases a government official's palm, the person secretly gives money to the official in order to get something they want.

You may also hear this expression used with the word oil instead of grease.

Grease and oil help some machines work smoothly². Grease and oil are both black, slippery materials. They prevent friction³ when pieces of machinery⁴ touch or rub together.

You could argue that bribing⁵ people to get what you want works the same way. It makes a process work better – at least for the person doing the greasing.

Now, sometimes when we grease someone's palm, it is not as serious as bribery.

If you have ever secretly put money into someone's hand or palm for the purpose of getting a favor from them ... you have greased their palm. But don't worry. Palm-greasing is not always illegal. Sometimes it just simplifies a process or helps avoid a long wait. Other times it gives you access that may be denied to others.

For example, at a restaurant you could give someone money to get a better table. You could also give money to a tour guide to see areas closed to others.

I once had a friend who would often grease her little brother's palm when her boyfriend visited. This little bit of palm-greasing guaranteed that she and her boyfriend would have some privacy. Her little brother kept his word, and her parents never knew about the boyfriend's visits.

These examples of palm-greasing may be secret but they are not illegal. They simply make something happen more quickly or easily.

And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

oil – n. any of numerous greasy⁶ flammable usually liquid substances from plant, animal, or mineral sources that do not dissolve in water and are used especially as lubricants, fuels, and food

grease – n. oily matter

palm – n. the underside of the hand between the fingers and the wrist

slippery – adj. having a surface smooth enough to cause one to slide or lose one's hold

friction – n. the force that resists motion between bodies in contact

favor – n. an act of kindness

access – n. permission or power to enter, approach, or make use of

tour guide – n. a person who takes people on trips through an area and explains the interesting details about it

1 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

2 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

3 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

4 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

5 bribing   

贿赂

参考例句：

• He tried to escape by bribing the guard. 他企图贿赂警卫而逃走。
• Always a new way of bribing unknown and maybe nonexistent forces. 总是用诸如此类的新方法来讨好那不知名的、甚或根本不存在的魔力。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻

6 greasy   

adj. 多脂的，油脂的

参考例句：

• He bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean his greasy oven.昨天他买了强力清洁剂来清洗油污的炉子。
• You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时，你会厌恶油腻的气味。