bribe

Money or a gift offered to make someone do something dishonest or against the rules.

• The official refused the bribe.
• She offered him a bribe to ignore the missing documents.
• Police found evidence that several judges had accepted bribes.

Similar words: payoff

Common phrases: accept a bribe, offer a bribe, pay a bribe

To give someone money or a gift so they do something dishonest or against the rules.

• They tried to bribe the guard.
• Someone had bribed the referee to change the result.
• Would you report a colleague who bribed an official?

How to use it: bribe someone to do something (They tried to bribe the guard to let them enter.); bribe someone with something (He bribed the official with expensive gifts.)

Similar words: buy off

Common phrases: bribe an official, bribe someone to

To obtain someone’s help or agreement by giving them money or gifts.

• He hoped to bribe her silence.
• The prince bribed their loyalty with gold.
• They could not bribe his cooperation, however much they offered.

Similar words: buy

Common phrases: bribe someone’s silence, bribe someone’s compliance