conscience money

American  

noun

1. money paid, often anonymously, to relieve one's conscience, as for an obligation previously evaded or a wrong done.

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conscience money British  

noun

1. money paid voluntarily to compensate for dishonesty, esp money paid voluntarily for taxes formerly evaded

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Etymology

Origin of conscience money

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

This was widely viewed as the tribute, in the form of conscience money, that had been originally raised from the blood of the toilers.

From Slate • Oct. 20, 2012

The Canadian Department of National Revenue received $12 in "conscience money" last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

When the agency finally decided to pull out, it sent a final payment of $1,376,700 in conscience money to Roberto and Savimbi through Kinshasa.

From Time Magazine Archive

If I donated to a church, it was called conscience money; and if I didn't donate to it, they said I was mean and miserly.

From Oh, Money! Money! by Porter, Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman)

We frantically scatter conscience money and invent systems of conscience banking, with expiatory penalties, atonements, redemptions, salvations, hospital subscription lists and what not, to enable us to contract-out of the moral code.

From Bernard Shaw's Preface to Major Barbara by Shaw, Bernard