conscience money

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

Origin of conscience money

First recorded in 1840–50

Some of the furniture he kept for himself; but the bulk of it went to his sister as conscience-money.

At Sunwich Port, Complete |W.W. Jacobs
It's like conscience-money—you know what that is, don't you?

New Treasure Seekers |E. (Edith) Nesbit
There are over two hundred thousand dollars in securities and they have evidently been left there by somebody as conscience-money.

The Crevice |William John Burns and Isabel Ostrander
"Conscience-money," said Mr. Bonnithorne, pursing up his mouth.

A Son of Hagar |Sir Hall Caine

Next in importance to it were Mr. Baldwin's revelations on the subject of "conscience-money."

Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, June 9, 1920 |Various

conscience money

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