cookie jar

noun

1. a jar or other container for storing cookies.
2. such a container used for storing money.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cookie jar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have one's hand in the cookie jar, Informal. to take or attempt to take advantage of one's position by demanding or accepting favors or bribes:

   They suspected the mayor's assistant had his hand in the cookie jar.

Example Sentences

“People got caught with their hands in the cookie jar,” he said in September 2020 on Facebook Live.

From Los Angeles Times

The Department of Homeland Security got caught with its hand in the surveillance cookie jar again, despite having more pressing things to do — like hopefully preventing a major cyberattack by neo-Nazis.

From Salon

Candidates technically aren't supposed to use campaign funds to line their own pockets, though politicians like Boebert find ways to get their hands in the cookie jar anyway.

From Salon

It’s sort of like a cookie jar — the bigger it is, the more cookies it can store.

From Los Angeles Times

"Sure enough, Genius caught Google with its hand in the cookie jar: The 'RED HANDED' message soon began to appear in the lyrics in Google's information boxes," Genius told the justices.

From Reuters