Definition
A bribe, or a transfer of money that the interested parties represent as a tip but that disinterested third parties are likely to view as a bribe.
Origins
Because U.S. dollar bills are green; the term reflects euphemistic irony, as it implies that a handshake that hands them off is more than a mere handshake.
In Context
- "ended the long local tradition of green handshakes for building inspectors"
See Also
- golden handshake
- backscratcher
- backscratching
- pay-to-play
- quid pro quo
- scratch someone's back
- you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours