old pals act

old pals act

The idea that someone has used their power, money, influence, or position to benefit or protect their friends or acquaintances. Used especially in reference to sports teams. Primarily heard in UK. Despite being great friends with the club's owner, the new manager insists that it was his belief in the team's ability to win championships, not some old pals act, that led him to take the job.
See also: act, old, pal
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the old pals act

used humorously to imply that someone is using a position of influence to help their friends. British informal
See also: act, old, pal
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (Is) this taken?
  • be (flat) on (one's) back
  • DYODW
  • damn well
  • flat on (one's) back
  • flat on back
  • et alibi
  • come in
  • come in a certain position
  • come on in
References in periodicals archive
But he insists it was not an old pals act that put him in pole position to sign the 20-year-old Stubbs.
Contact sport: Accies boss uses link to get man
It's a self-servicing institution, a place where the old pals act still thrives.
2 TIERS FOR SOUVENIRS; Lawwell right to call for changes at SFA but Celts chief didn't go far enough...we need just one governing body
A bit of the old pals act. Now why has he changed his mind?
Fickle MP spurs voter apathy; Letters
Old pals act: Kate, Sadie (far right) and friends smoulder for camera
Kate's having a Highland fling for her 41st birthday
LUDLOW: 2.10 Drifter, 2.40 Mighty Minnie, 3.10 Uriah Heep, 3.45 Area Fifty One, 4.20 Old Pals Act, 4.50 Carobello, 5.20 Lyssio.
SARABAND'S SELECTIONS
THE MAIL'S TOP TIPS CARLISLE 2.20 Clan Chief 2.50 Montoya's Son 3.25 Emral Silk 4.00 Whats Up Woody 4.30 Dibdabs 5.00 Duke Of Navan 5.30 Solway Prince KEMPTON 5.40 Inke 6.10 Semaral 6.40 Its Lady Mary 7.10 Lovely Memory 7.40 Hurricane Alert 8.10 Galactic Halo 8.40 Daaree 9.10 Bob LUDLOW 2.10 Drifter 2.40 Mighty Minnie 3.10 Uriah Heep 3.45 Area Fifty One 4.20 Old Pals Act 4.50 Carobello 5.20 Lyssio SOUTHWELL 1.30 Minella Bliss 2.00 Head Spin 2.30 Tri Nations 3.00 Oficial Ben 3.35 Silver Shuffle 4.10 Spin Cast 4.40 Atlantic Gold 5.10 Kev The Car
THE MAIL'S TOP TIPS
LUDLOW: 2.10 Drifter, 2.40 Mighty Minnie, 3.10 Uriah Heep, 3.45 Area Fifty One, 4.20 Old Pals Act, Uriah Heep, 3.45 Area Fifty One, 4.20 Old Pals Act, 4.50 CAr obello, 5.20 Lyssio.
TODAY'S TIPS
OLD PALS ACT: Carroll and Downing in Liverpool days and (below) Lucas
DO US A FAVOUR; Lucas looks to Anfield old boys
FONTWELL: 2.10 Shuh Shuh Gah, 2.40 Brady, 3.10 Fair Breeze, 3.40 Maid Of Silk, 4.15 Full Of Joy, 4.50 Old Pals Act, 5.25 Rolling Maul.
TOMORROW'S TOP TIPS
NAOMI MATTHEW: 2.10 Shuh Shuh Gah, 2.40 Brady, 3.10 Fair Breeze, 3.40 Maid Of Silk, 4.15 Full Of Joy, 4.50 Old Pals Act, 5.25 Rolling Maul.
Tomorrow's tips
CHELSEA coach Carlo Ancelotti did not look like a man ready to crack under the intense pressure of this season's title run-in as he shrugged off suggestions that the "old pals act" could provide one more twist in the tale.
No old pals' act
PAUL Ince is backing Blackburn goal hero Keith Andrews to finally make the grade at the age of 28 - after dismissing accusations he signed the midfielder as "an old pals act."
Ince backs Andrews to hit the big time; the premier league BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP West Brom 2 Blackburn 2
There was no good old Pals act for Midland pro Darren Prosser as his bid to make it back to Spain for the European Tour Qualifying School finals slid off the rails last night.
Pals no friend of Prosser after qualifying slip
OLD PALS ACT Reese and Jennifer now and, inset, as they were as Friends sisters
It's old Friends reunited in Jen & Reese series; Thinking outside the box with Nicola Methven & Mark Jefferies; SQUARE EYES
Gould's new Lions boss Mark Burchill was a teammate of his dad's at Parkhead 15 years ago but the youngster is determined to prove to his new side there's no old pals act going on behind the scenes.
Gould's a chip off the old block; LIV'STON v FALKIRK