cross (one's) palm with silver
To pay one, especially as a bribe. Well, if you cross my palm, I might remember a few details about the people you're asking about. I crossed her palm with silver to make sure she won't come after us. What is this money? Are you trying to cross my palm with silver so that I won't tell the authorities what you've done?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cross someone's palm with silver
Pay for a service; pay in advance. For example,
I'll give you all the details, but first cross my palm with silver. This phrase alludes to the old practice of placing silver coins across a gypsy fortuneteller's hand before having one's fortune told. Today it is sometimes used in a jocular way to ask for a bribe or a tip, as in the example. [c. 1700] Also see
grease someone's palm.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
cross someone's palm with silver
pay someone for a favour or service. often humorous Crossing someone's palm with silver was originally connected with the telling of fortunes, when the client would literally trace out the sign of a cross on the hand of the fortune-teller with a silver coin.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017