Money is usually involved in the expression "decorating the palm." The person at the receiving end is being suborned (sub, under, + orn, decorate or furnish). To suborn means to bribe for criminal purposes, especially for perjury. The root orn appears in adorn, ornament, and ornate, which has come to mean over-decorated.
Showing posts with label suborn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suborn. Show all posts
Monday, December 22, 2008
DECORATING THE PALM
Money is usually involved in the expression "decorating the palm." The person at the receiving end is being suborned (sub, under, + orn, decorate or furnish). To suborn means to bribe for criminal purposes, especially for perjury. The root orn appears in adorn, ornament, and ornate, which has come to mean over-decorated.
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