yellow-dog fund

Definition

Noun: - Secret fund used for bribery or corruption: A "yellow-dog fund" refers to a sum of money, often kept hidden, that is used to bribe or influence people, especially in political or business contexts. The term originates from American slang, where "yellow-dog" implies something contemptible or underhanded.

Usage Examples
  • (A secret bribery fund used to gain unfair advantages.)
  • (A hidden financial resource for corrupt practices.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to operate a yellow-dog fund": to manage or use such a secret financial resource.

    • The CEO was charged with operating a yellow-dog fund to influence regulators. (He was accused of running a secret bribery scheme.)

  • "to expose a yellow-dog fund": to uncover or reveal the existence of such a fund.

    • Journalists worked for months to expose the yellow-dog fund behind the scandal. (They revealed the hidden money used for corruption.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Yellow-dog (adj., slang): contemptible, cowardly, or underhanded.

    • His yellow-dog tactics in the negotiation angered everyone. (His dishonest methods were widely condemned.)

  • Slush fund (n): a similar term for a secret fund used for illicit purposes, often political bribes.

    • The slush fund was used to pay off whistleblowers. (A secret fund for corrupt payments.)
Synonyms
  • Bribery fund: money set aside to pay for illegal favors.
  • Slush fund: a hidden reserve of cash for unethical or illegal activities.
  • Secret fund: money kept confidential for improper use.
Related Idioms

  • "To have a finger in the pie": to be involved in a corrupt or secret scheme (often implying financial gain).

    • He had a finger in the pie of the yellow-dog fund. (He participated in the corrupt financial arrangement.)

  • "To grease someone's palm": to bribe someone with money.

    • The lobbyist greased the palms of officials using the yellow-dog fund. (He bribed them with secret money.)
Etymology Note

The term "yellow-dog" in American slang historically refers to something contemptible or worthless (e.g., "yellow-dog contract" — an unfair employment agreement). The "yellow-dog fund" thus connotes a fund used for disreputable purposes.