ill-gotten gains

Idioms and Phrases

Benefits obtained in an evil manner or by dishonest means, as in They duped their senile uncle into leaving them a fortune and are now enjoying their ill-gotten gains . [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Prince Charles also announced a plan to ‘follow the money’ in an effort to strip wildlife poachers of their ill-gotten gains.

From The Daily Beast

The complaint charges that members of the conspiracy used ill-gotten gains to purchase gold from the owners of the stores.

From The Daily Beast

All your ill-gotten gains should be returned to those you stole from, regardless of whose names they are in.

From The Daily Beast

Ye take part of ye'er ill-gotten gains an' leave it with me f'r dhrink.

From Project Gutenberg

On this balance of an ancient and primitive design he was engaged in weighing his ill-gotten gains, squatting to the task.

From Project Gutenberg

I daresay he expected to settled down and die in the odour of sanctity, surrounded by his ill-gotten gains.

From Project Gutenberg

This guilty man, hugging to himself the knowledge of his crime and his ill-gotten gains, had found the burden too heavy to bear.

From Project Gutenberg

The pirut rapidly approached, chucklin with fiendish delight at the idee of increasin his ill-gotten gains.

From Project Gutenberg