Grease One's Palms May 2026

: The idiom relies on the metaphor of moving parts in a machine. Just as applying grease to a squeaky wheel or stiff engine part reduces friction and makes it move smoothly, giving money to an official makes a bureaucratic process move faster.

🔍 Meaning and Origin

: This is an exceptionally old English idiom dating back to the first half of the 1500s. 📝 Common Sentence Examples grease one's palms

"If you want your luggage to make the plane on time, be sure to ." : The idiom relies on the metaphor of

"Files rarely move in that government office unless you of the clerks." grease one's palms