lolly up
C1 slang separable transitive
In simple words
To give someone money to make them do what you want or to keep them quiet.
Literal meaning: 'Lolly' = British slang for money; 'up' suggests providing or topping up — so literally, to hand over money to someone.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
slang
(British slang, rare) To bribe someone with money in order to gain their cooperation or silence.
"They tried to lolly up the inspector so he'd overlook the safety violations."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Highly informal British slang. 'Lolly' is British slang for money. This phrasal verb is rare and dated, associated more with mid-20th-century British slang than with contemporary speech. Most speakers today would use 'bribe', 'pay off', or 'grease someone's palm' instead.
Commonly used with
official guard witness politician contact
Forms
Base
lolly up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lollies up
he/she/it
Past simple
lollied up
yesterday
Past participle
lollied up
have + pp
-ing form
lollying up
continuous
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