on the take

taking bribes. (Underworld.) I heard that the mayor is on the take. Everyone in city hall is on the take.

See also: on, take

Accepting bribes or other illegal income, as in The commission found a number of police officers on the take. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

See also: on, take

mod. taking bribes. (Underworld.) Everyone in city hall is on the take.

See also: on, take

Informal

Taking or seeking to take bribes or illegal income: "There were policemen on the take" (Scott Turow).

See also: on, take

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Jourdain	-	French
Saturnina	sah-toor-NEE-nah (Spanish)	Ancient Roman, Spanish
Taichi	tah-ee-chee	Japanese
Nicolau	nee-koo-LOW (Portuguese)	Portuguese, Galician, Catalan
Lotario	-	Italian
West	[west]