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."
separable
lolly up
C1 slang separable transitive
British slang: to bribe someone with money, or to pay someone to secure their cooperation or silence.
In plain English
To give someone money to make them do what you want or to keep them quiet.
What does "lolly up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Lolly' = British slang for money; 'up' suggests providing or topping up — so literally, to hand over money to someone.
Actually means
To give someone money to make them do what you want or to keep them quiet.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "lolly up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
official guard witness politician contact
How to conjugate "lolly up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "lolly up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lolly up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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