wet one's beak

And we must protect everyone's money, for which they will let us wet our beaks.

All I'm asking is that you let me wet my beak a little bit."

And, having already wet their beaks, moving up the food chain to the multinationals.

Even the mob wants to wet its beak.

When the time comes, tell the Don directly and make sure the Family wets its beak on the deal.

To let someone wet their beak (Sicilian language "fari vagnari u pizzu") is to pay protection money.

If you will arrange for Beson to "wet his beak" so that I may have them, I'll trouble you no more.

We wet our beaks like eagles, our spears flash in the sun; we shake our assegais, and are hungry to fight.

Likewise, keyboardist Kiernan Box released the Wet Your Beak album by his band The Disappointments, featuring Mark C. Halstead on vocals.

In that sense, the implicit governing philosophy in New York has been "avoid the tragedy of the commons" (while also letting the people on the inside wet their beaks over and over again).

:'In New York, in 1921, Don Fanucci is now aware of the partnership between Vito, Clemenza and Sal Tessio, and demands that they "wet his beak."

With Mr. Wasserman advising and wetting his beak, Hecht and Lancaster made serious, sometimes political films in black and white while living large in offices decorated with El Grecos and adjustable waterfalls.

There are more lavish clubhouses in Scotland (see Loch Lomond), and more lively places to wet your beak after a long 18 (see Gleneagles), but none hold more gravitas and more respect than the Royal and Ancient.