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kickback

[/ˈkɪkbæk/]
nounpl: kickbacks
propina; retorno ilícito
1. A bribe or illegal payment given as a reward for favorable treatment or business dealings
The contractor received a kickback for awarding the contract to his friend's company.
O empreiteiro recebeu uma propina por adjudicar o contrato à empresa do amigo.
2. A sudden violent reaction or movement, especially of a weapon or tool
The shotgun's kickback knocked him backward.
O retrocesso da espingarda o derrubou para trás.
3. A sudden rebound or reaction to something
There was a kickback from the political establishment against the new policy.
Houve uma reação do establishment político contra a nova política.
NYC Slang
vigorish (for payment); blowback (for reaction)
Synonyms
bribepayoffcutrecoilbacklashreaction

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
propina; retrocesso; reação
Most common term for illicit payment or recoil
Rio de Janeiro
propina; grana para trás
Informal usage for bribe
São Paulo
propina; retorno ilícito
More formal business/legal context
Portugal
suborno; comissão ilícita; retrocesso
Formal legal terminology preferred

Related Idioms & Phrases

get a kickback from
kick back against
kickback scheme
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