hush money
复数形式
hush moneys
1
封口费, 沉默的贿赂
money that is offered to someone so that they do not share a piece of information or a secret with others
The idiom "hush money" originates from attempts to silence someone or prevent them from speaking out. It typically refers to money or other compensation paid to someone to keep them quiet, especially about illegal, embarrassing or incriminating information. It is used when describing situations where someone in a position of power or influence provides money or gifts to another to stop people from sharing information or accusations about them with the public.
- The politician had paid hush money to his mistress to keep her quiet about their affair.
这位政客曾向他的情妇支付封口费，以让她对他们的婚外情保持沉默。
- The celebrity is rumored to be giving hush money to witnesses of a car accident to prevent news reports.
有传言称，这位名人正在向车祸目击者支付封口费以防止新闻报道。
- It is suspected that the company will use hush money to avoid potential lawsuits over health issues with one of its products.
怀疑该公司将使用封口费来避免因其产品之一健康问题而引发的潜在诉讼。
- The scandal had broken when it was revealed that hush money had already been paid years ago to cover up embezzlement.
当揭露多年前已经支付了封口费以掩盖挪用公款时，丑闻爆发了。
- They have accepted hush money multiple times to hide illegal business practices from regulators.
他们多次接受了封口费以向监管机构隐瞒非法商业行为。