cookie jar

noun

1. a jar or other container for storing cookies.
2. such a container used for storing money.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cookie jar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have one's hand in the cookie jar, Informal. to take or attempt to take advantage of one's position by demanding or accepting favors or bribes:

   They suspected the mayor's assistant had his hand in the cookie jar.

Example Sentences

This is certainly a victory for the conscious consumer wary of selling data to advertisers, but it’s also one that might leave businesses scrambling when the cookie jar disappears.

From Search Engine Watch

Issa responded by comparing Cummings to “a little boy whose hand has been caught in a cookie jar.”

From The Daily Beast

“The cookie jar was on the table without a lid” is how Stapel put it to me once.

From The Daily Beast

The fact that they made it about her, and not about the double standard, showed that their hands were caught in the cookie jar.

From The Daily Beast

I am sure I havent been at the cookie jar any more than usual this week, the twelve-year-old said.

From Project Gutenberg

She did hope this wouldn't be one of those awful days when Aunt Hetty's old Agnes had let the cookie-jar get empty!

From Project Gutenberg

Hortense quietly sneaked over to the cookie jar and peeked in.

From Project Gutenberg

Alec was fishing in the cupboard for the cookie jar when the vidiphone buzzed.

From Project Gutenberg

There was always an open sesame to the cookie jar and the apple barrel.

From Project Gutenberg