on the pad

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Taking regular bribes.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The badge showed that he was on the inspector's pad and the telephone numbers suggested that he had connections.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “on the pad” mean?

Taking regular bribes.

Is “on the pad” formal or informal?

on the pad is generally slang.