have one's hand in the till

English

Etymology

From the most basic form of the crime: a shop assistant removing cash from the register.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

have one's hand in the till (third-person singular simple present has one's hand in the till, present participle having one's hand in the till, simple past and past participle had one's hand in the till)

1. (idiomatic, chiefly British) To embezzle, to steal from one's place of business.
   • 1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:

     Francis Urquhart: You've been a bit of a bad lad, haven't you, Roger?
     Roger O'Neill: What?
     FU: You've had your hand in the till.
     RO: Francis, you're joking!
     FU: Your expenses are paid by Central Office, aren't they? But you've been claiming quite large sums from the advertising agency as well. It's a bit naughty, Roger.

Usage notes

• Various similar constructions are also found, e.g. with one's hands in the till.

Translations

to steal money that one has been trusted with

• Dutch: uit de kas graaien (nl)
• French: taper dans la caisse