Snow, blizzard, powder, slush, drift, sleet, etc.

[steepholm]

The presenter Martha Kearney mentioned on The World at One today, as if it were a measure of how endemic corruption was in Afghanistan, that they have a dozen words meaning 'bribe'.

I'm not saying there isn't a lot of corruption there, but how strong an argument is this for demonstrating it? While you're thinking about that, excuse me if I mutter under my breath:

Kick-back, bung, back-hander, sweetener, inducement, tip, pay-off, tribute, protection money, hush money, palm-grease, fix...

Comments

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

That, sir, is a proof of the richness of the English language!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Ah - I knew there had to be a crucial difference somewhere!