sleaze factor

Idioms and Phrases

The element in a political party, administration, or other organization that is corrupt, controversial, or tainted by scandal. For example, I can't see myself making a campaign contribution to them—there's too much of a sleaze factor . This slangy expression derives from the adjective sleazy , which means “vulgar” or “tawdry.” The idiom was first used in politics in the 1980s.