wet one's beak

Definitions

1. To drink a beverage.
   idiomatic
2. To take one's share from the financial proceeds of illicit activity.
   idiomatic

Examples

“Rinaldo . . . is represented as a gluttonous feeder, and rather disposed to quarrel over his meat; liking also to ‘wet⟳ his beak’ in generous liquor.”

“Then, very softly, she says, "I'll stick⟳ the kettle on so we can wet⟳ our beaks."”

““Yo, it's gonna be a few minutes before the acts go on so let's hit the VIP and wet⟳ our beaks a li'l bit,” Gotti screamed in Tone's ear over the music.”

“"Giorgio," the Don said, ". . . our Family will now serve⟳ only as financial advisors to all the other Families. . . . [W]e must protect⟳ everyone's money, for which they will let⟳ us wet⟳ our beaks."”

“[I]nvestigators who track organized crime believe⟳ that some members have⟳ geared up to take⟳ advantage of the swift and enormous cash influx . . . looking, as the old Sicilian expression goes, to wet⟳ their beaks.”

“"See⟳, the thing about the mob, everybody had to wet⟳ his beak. . . . I was supposed to give⟳ them a piece of my hard work⟳."”

CEFR level