English Explanatory Dictionary

pay to play

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To incur a cost to participate in an activity; especially, in a corrupt way.
  2. To make a campaign contribution or illegal payment to avail oneself of business or other opportunities controlled by politicians or civil servants.
  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pay, to, play.
noun
  1. Any kind of charge to engage in an activity.
  2. Campaign contributions (or outright bribes or graft) required to avail oneself of certain opportunities controlled by politicians, such as uncompetitive government contracts.

Word forms

pay to play pays to play paying to play paid to play pay-to-play

Etymology

From the sometime practice of charging a fee for admission to a gambling game.

Related words

payola
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