slush fund
Plural
slush funds
1
an amount of money that is set aside to be used for dishonest or illegal activities
The idiom "slush fund" originated in the mid-19th century and has its roots in the practice of melting snow or ice to create a watery mixture known as "slush." This slush was often used to lubricate or clean machinery. It is often used in political or organizational contexts when referring to hidden or unauthorized funds used for questionable purposes.
- The company is suspected of maintaining a slush fund to pay off officials and secure government contracts.
- They are currently investigating allegations of a slush fund being used for personal expenses by high-ranking executives.
- The auditor is scrutinizing the financial records to determine if there is evidence of a slush fund.
- Last year, it was revealed that the politician had been operating a slush fund to finance their re-election campaign.
- The CEO was fired after evidence emerged of a slush fund being used to embezzle company funds.