on the pad

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English

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Etymology 1

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As a reference to padding one's income.

Phrase

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on the pad

  1. (police slang) Taking regular bribes.
    • 1978, Burgess Laughlin, Job Opportunities in the Black Market, page 5:
      The badge showed that he was on the inspector's pad and the telephone numbers suggested that he had connections.
    • 2002, Samuel Walker, Charles M. Katz, The Police in America: An Introduction, page 325:
      New York City police officers "on the pad" were found to receive up to $850 a month to protect a single dealer.
    • 2011, James Lee Burke, A Dave Robicheaux Ebook Boxed Set:
      But I swear to you, Dave, I never got any free action because of my badge, and I never went on the pad.

Etymology 2

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From the sense of "to pad" meaning to practice highway robbery.

Alternative forms

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Phrase

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on the pad

  1. (archaic, slang) Practicing highway robbery; robbing travelers on the public roads.
    • 1622, John Fletcher, Beggar's Bush:
      . I crown thy nab with a gage of bene-bowse, And stall thee by the salmon into the clowes; To maund on the pad, and strike all the cheats,
    • 1788, John O'Keeffe, The Prisoner at Large:
      I go on the pad.
    • 1986, Maggie Mackeever, Lady Sherry and the Highwayman, page 218:
      As for why I went on the pad, 'tis simple: I was poor as a church mouse.

Anagrams

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