rake-off
C1Informal, often derogatory.
Definition
Meaning
An illegal or unethical share of money taken from a transaction, especially a bribe or commission.
A share of profits, especially when taken dishonestly or secretly; a kickback.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in contexts of corruption, shady deals, or unethical business practices. Implies secrecy and dishonesty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties, but slightly more common in American English (often as "rake-off" or "rakeoff"). The concept is universally understood.
Connotations
Strongly negative, associated with graft and corruption.
Frequency
Low frequency in formal contexts; found in journalism, crime fiction, and colloquial speech about corruption.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + a rake-off (e.g., take, get, receive, offer)[Adjective] + rake-off (e.g., illegal, secret, huge)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the take”
- “Grease someone's palm”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal term for an unethical commission or kickback in a deal.
Academic
Studied in economics, law, and political science regarding corruption.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing corruption.
Technical
Used in legal and journalistic contexts describing financial crime.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was accused of raking off a portion of the contract sum.
American English
- The corrupt official raked off millions from the scheme.
adjective
British English
- The rake-off money was traced to an offshore account.
American English
- They uncovered a rake-off scheme involving public funds.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The politician was taking a rake-off from the building project.
- Investigators found evidence of a huge rake-off in the defence contract.
- The complex network of shell companies was designed to hide the substantial rake-offs paid to intermediaries.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RAKE scraping money OFF the table into a secret pile.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORRUPTION IS A THEFT/SECRET HARVEST.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить буквально как "грабли-оф".
- Эквивалент — "откат" (otkat), "взятка" (vzyatka) для взятки, или "доля" (dolya) для доли, но с негативным оттенком.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'rake up' (to collect leaves or memories).
- Using in positive contexts (it is always negative).
- Spelling as one word 'rakeoff' (less common).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'rake-off'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it implies an unethical or illegal share, not a legitimate commission.
Yes, though less common, 'to rake off' means to take such a share dishonestly.
'Commission' is neutral or legal; 'rake-off' is always negative and implies corruption.
It is informal and derogatory, common in journalism and colloquial speech about corruption.