bribe
das Schmiergeld, die Schmiergelder
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bribe
Money that someone secretly receives so that they use their professional or official position to benefit the person making the payment. The payment is intended as a bribe.
Der Unternehmer zahlte einem Beamten Schmiergeld, um den öffentlichen Auftrag zu bekommen.
The businessman paid a public official a bribe to get the public contract.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schmiergelder |
| genitive | des Schmiergeldes |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Schmiergeld | die Schmiergelder |
| accusative | das Schmiergeld | die Schmiergelder |
| dative | dem Schmiergeld | den Schmiergeldern |
| genitive | des Schmiergeldes des Schmiergelds | der Schmiergelder |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Schmiergeld' (bribe) consists of 'Schmier-' from 'schmieren' (to grease) and 'Geld' (money). The underlying image is that money helps get a process moving more easily, much like lubricant helps a machine run.
Mit Schmiergeld wollte die Firma die Genehmigung schneller bekommen.
The company wanted to use a bribe to get the permit more quickly.
A common pattern is 'jemandem Schmiergeld zahlen' (to pay someone a bribe) or 'jemandem Schmiergeld anbieten' (to offer someone a bribe). The person who is supposed to receive the money is in the dative case.
Die Geschäftsfrau bot dem Kontrolleur Schmiergeld an.
The businesswoman offered the inspector a bribe.
For the person receiving the money, typical collocations include 'Schmiergeld verlangen' (to demand a bribe), 'Schmiergeld annehmen' (to accept a bribe), and 'Schmiergeld kassieren' (to collect a bribe). 'Verlangen' refers to demanding the money, while 'annehmen' and 'kassieren' refer to receiving it.
Der Beamte verlangte Schmiergeld, bevor er den Antrag bearbeiten wollte.
The official demanded a bribe before he was willing to process the application.
Die Mitarbeiterin wurde entlassen, weil sie Schmiergeld angenommen hatte.
The employee was dismissed because she had accepted a bribe.
