| 释义 |
cross someone's palm with silver cross (one's) palm with silverTo pay someone, often as a bribe. Well, if you cross my palm with silver, 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.See also: cross, palm, silvercross someone's palm with silverPay 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. See also: cross, palm, silvercross 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.See also: cross, palm, silver |