pad their pockets

USAGE SUMMARY

"pad their pockets" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression that means to take advantage of someone or something for personal gain. For example, "The corrupt politicians had been padding their pockets for years by taking bribes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Clintonworld is a galaxy where personal enrichment and political advancement blend seamlessly, and where a cast of jarringly familiar characters pad their pockets every which way to Sunday.

The New York Times

"Going from a fair market, 'willing buyer, willing seller,' rate to a government-mandated subsidy will break the backs of artists, while Pandora executives pad their pockets".

The New York Times

But many studio owners say they sponsor monthlong back-to-back challenges not to pad their pockets but to wake up students.

The New York Times

Our loan officers aren't incentivized or pressured to sell these mortgages or advocate for a larger loan amount or a riskier product just to pad their pockets.

Forbes

I won't give doctors and pharmaceutical companies money just to pad their pockets.

Huffington Post

Trump is rolling back critical public health and environmental standards so his buddies in the fossil fuel industry can continue to pad their pockets at our expense.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"They are padding their pockets by breaking the law".

The New York Times - Food

Hegarty then accused him and his "cronies" of "padding their pockets".

The Guardian

Second, it's meant to give LPs more transparency through the ethics questions, and make sure fund leaders aren't padding their pockets with lucrative adviser shares in exchange for bringing in their Syndicate or Partnership with a worse deal.

TechCrunch

They take their money; it's like they're padding their pockets, before they lose the house," she says.

Huffington Post

While they are in fact putting money towards developing drug advancements, they are also padding their pockets extremely significantly.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pad their pockets" when you want to convey the idea of someone unfairly increasing their wealth at the expense of others. It's suitable for informal and journalistic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "pad their pockets" when simply describing someone becoming wealthy through legitimate means. The phrase carries a negative connotation of exploitation or unfair gain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pad their pockets" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It describes an action (padding) directed towards a possession (pockets), conveying the idea of enriching oneself, usually through dishonest means. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pad their pockets" is an idiomatic expression used to describe the act of unfairly enriching oneself, often at the expense of others. Ludwig AI confirms that this expression is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in journalistic and informal contexts. While it carries a negative connotation, its register is generally neutral, frequently appearing in news articles. Related phrases include "enrich themselves" and "line their pockets", offering alternative ways to convey similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure the context involves some form of unethical gain, avoiding its application to legitimate wealth accumulation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

line their pockets

Similar meaning but more direct and less idiomatic than "pad their pockets".

enrich themselves

Focuses on the outcome of becoming richer, without specifying the method.

milk the system

Suggests extracting as much benefit as possible from a system, often unfairly.

feather their nests

An older idiom with a similar meaning, implying preparing for comfortable retirement.

exploit for profit

Focuses on the act of exploitation, with profit as the motive.

profit unfairly

Highlights the injustice of the profit, removing the specific image of "pockets".

cash in on

Implies taking advantage of a trend or situation to make money quickly.

gain illicit wealth

More formal, emphasizing the illegal nature of the wealth acquisition.

reap undue rewards

More formal, highlighting the unfairness of the rewards received.

make a killing

Informal, suggests making a large profit quickly and easily, sometimes with negative connotations.

FAQs

What does it mean to "pad their pockets"?

To "pad their pockets" means to unfairly increase one's wealth, often at the expense of others or through unethical means. It implies taking advantage of a situation for personal financial gain.

What are some synonyms for "pad their pockets"?

Alternatives to "pad their pockets" include "enrich themselves", "feather their nests", or "line their pockets", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "pad their pockets"?

Yes, "pad their pockets" is a grammatically correct idiomatic expression. It is commonly used in both spoken and written English, particularly in journalistic and informal contexts.

How can I use "pad their pockets" in a sentence?

You might say, "The corrupt officials were accused of using public funds to "pad their pockets"" to illustrate their misuse of resources for personal enrichment.