bribe
bribe — noun
1. money, gifts, or another reward secretly offered to make a person with power hel
money, gifts, or another reward secretly offered to make a person with power help you in a wrong or unfair way.
The builder slipped the inspector a bribe before the safety check.
slip someone a bribe
Police found envelopes of cash used as bribes in the mayor's desk.
cash bribe / bribes
The customs officer lost his job after taking a bribe.
A free holiday was offered as a bribe for the contract.
Jurors must report any bribe before the trial begins.
- payoff
informal; often suggests money given secretly to secure silence or cooperation
- kickback
a secret payment returned from a business deal, especially after a contract
- hush money
money paid specifically to keep someone quiet
文法句型
give/pay a bribe to + person
take/accept a bribe from + person
用法筆記
Common with verbs like 'give', 'offer', 'pay', 'take', and 'accept'. The receiver is usually someone with official power, such as an inspector, police officer, or judge. Distinguish from an ordinary gift: a bribe is meant to change the person's behaviour unfairly.
常見錯誤
bribe — verb
1. to make someone with power help you by secretly offering money or another reward
to make someone with power help you by secretly offering money or another reward, especially for something wrong or unfair.
The gang bribed a guard to leave the back gate unlocked.
bribe someone to + verb
Several firms bribed officials with concert tickets and wine.
bribe someone with + reward
Ravi tried to bribe the coach for extra playing time.
A prisoner once bribed the cook for a mobile phone.
The company denied bribing airport staff during the permit dispute.
文法句型
bribe someone to + verb
bribe someone with + money/gifts
用法筆記
Object is usually a person who can allow, hide, or change something for you. Two common patterns are 'bribe someone to do something' and 'bribe someone with money or gifts'. Distinguish from 'pay': you bribe someone for an unfair favour, but you pay someone for normal work or service.