pay off (someone)

to give someone money illegally to get them to do what you want.

The pair had paid off local police to protect their drug-selling operation.

• up a tree
• up for grabs
• up front
• up hill and down dale
• up in arms
• up in the air
• upper crust
• upper-crust
• ups and downs
• upset the applecart
• up sleeve
• up sticks
• up the ante
• up the creek
• up the creek without a paddle
• up the spout
• up to its old tricks
• up to neck in
• up to neck in something
• up to no good
• up to old tricks
• up to par
• up to scratch
• up to snuff
• up to speed