Definition

Verb: - To take or receive a share of money, especially as a commission or bribe, from an illegal or dishonest transaction.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of taking a portion of money, typically in a secretive or illicit manner. It implies that the person receiving the money is involved in, or facilitating, a transaction that is often illegal or unethical. The phrase is commonly used in contexts involving crime, corruption, or shady business deals.

Examples

• The corrupt official was found to rake off a percentage from every government contract.
• They devised a scheme where the middleman would rake off profits before the money reached the investors.
• How much did he rake off from the smuggled goods?

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a strong negative connotation of greed and exploitation. It is frequently used in passive constructions (e.g., "A percentage was raked off") or with prepositions like "from" to specify the source of the money.
• While primarily associated with illegal activities, it can sometimes be used hyperbolically to describe taking an unfairly large commission from a legal but questionable deal.

Variants and Related Words

• Rake-off (noun): The share of money taken in such a manner.

Synonyms

• Skim
• Cream off
• Take a cut
• Receive a kickback

Related Phrases

• To take a rake-off: This is the noun form used in a verbal phrase, meaning to receive such a share.

Verb

1. take money from an illegal transaction