walk-around money

alternative walkaround money · alternative walk around money

1. colloquialuncountableMoney for use on trivial items while walking around.

   Twenty dollars between the three of us wasn't a lot, but it was walk-around money for grub and cigarettes.

   2012, James E. Jones, Money Thief, page 43

   Synonyms: petty cash

2. UScolloquialuncountableespecially BaltimoregovernmentMoney from a political campaign for use ensuring supporters bring voters to the polls, both for legitimate get out the vote efforts and political corruption.

   Parker: I'll tell you what I would like: another 75 in cash for walk-around money. Royce: 75, hm? Call another game.

   2006 Oct. 1, Dennis Lehane, "Refugees", The Wire, 00:31:23

   3 more examples

   Mr Davis: Would it be feasible to use the taxpayers['] money without any checking as you're talking about here for what is commonly known as walk-around money or street money? Because under the FEC, that is now legal... Mr Lott: ... I guess since walk-around money is now considered legal, I guess th[e]y could use that. Some States do rely very heavily on walk-around money in their primaries and general elections as the record will show.

   1979, “Statement of Hon. Trent Lott...”, in Hearings before the Committee on House Administration ... on H.R. 1 and Related Legislation, page 264

   The brief order issued late yesterday clears the way for candidates and their committees, as soon as Tuesday's city elections in Baltimore, to pay so-called walk-around money to people hired for the day to distribute campaign literature.

   2003 Sept. 5, Walter F. Roche Jr., "Paying of Election Day Workers OK'd" in The Baltimore Sun

   Loser's Town, the outsiders said. Washington had power. Baltimore's politics was based on election-day walk-around money, handed over with a sly wink by the precinct bosses, ensuring everybody got out the neighborhood vote.

   2008, Michael Olesker, The Colts' Baltimore, page 6

   Synonyms: street money, precinct money