backhander
noun

- an illegal payment or gift that is given to a person, especially someone in authority, in order to get them to do something for you
(Cambridge Dictionary)

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Used primarily in informal British English, the word backhander brings to mind the secret payment that it refers to. The money is held in the palm, and hidden by the back of one’s hand so observers can't see the passing of money from one person to another. A similar expression used to talk about bribing someone is "grease the palm".

The word backhand itself comes from tennis, where it refers to a stroke that is performed with the back of the hand facing outward, and in the direction of the stroke. It’s perhaps ironic that there are so many bribery scandals in the world of sports.

The word backhand can be used in another expression, too. A backhanded compliment is saying something that sounds like praise, but is, in fact, more like a hidden insult: "You’re very athletic for someone your size."

By the way, when you know something "like the back of your hand", you know it very well.

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SYNONYMS

payoff, bribe, slush fund, compensation, gift, hush money, kickback, grease

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Practice OWAD in a conversation today.

"These days it might be considered a BACKHANDER if we invite clients to sports events."