secret-service money

A diplomat hands over secret-service money in a discreet envelope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Funds for covert operations: "secret-service money" refers to monetary funds allocated for espionage activities, intelligence gathering, or other clandestine operations conducted by a secret service or intelligence agency.

Usage Examples

• (Funds designated for covert intelligence work.)
• (Money spent on espionage-related activities.)

Advanced Usage

• "to launder secret-service money": to conceal the origin of such funds through legitimate channels.

  • The agency was accused of laundering secret-service money through shell companies. (Hiding the source of covert funds.)

• "secret-service money trail": the documented path of such funds.

  • The journalist followed the secret-service money trail to uncover the bribery scandal. (The record of covert financial transactions.)

Variants and Related Words

• Secret service (n): a government agency responsible for intelligence and security.

  • The secret service operates under strict confidentiality. (The intelligence agency.)

• Slush fund (n): a reserve of money used for illicit or discretionary purposes (often synonymous in context).

  • The slush fund was used to pay for secret operations. (A secret fund for unofficial expenses.)

Synonyms

• Covert funds: money used for hidden or secret activities.
• Intelligence budget: financial resources allocated to intelligence agencies.

Related Idioms

• Black budget: a budget for classified or secret government projects, often including secret-service money.

  • The black budget funded the agency's most sensitive missions. (Secret financial allocation.)

• Off-the-books money: funds not recorded in official accounts, similar to secret-service money.

  • The off-the-books money was used for covert payments. (Unrecorded financial resources.)