cookie jar

American  

noun

1. a jar or other container for storing cookies.

2. such a container used for storing money.

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idioms

1. have one's hand in the cookie jar, 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.

Etymology

Origin of cookie jar

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

“He especially enjoyed it when we’d have a story about some politician caught with his hand in the cookie jar, or a spicy feature about stuffed shirts behaving badly,” Willse said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

“It was like someone was stealing money from the cookie jar and they kept refilling it.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

For markets, this is like stealing the last cookie in the cookie jar, getting caught red handed, and, instead of a good spanking, you get another cookie, with chocolate on.

From Reuters • Feb. 2, 2023

So, Daisies and Brownies, listen up: there's a new flavor in the cookie jar for you to hawk — Raspberry Rally.

From Salon • Aug. 18, 2022

Ma reached down and picked up the cookie jar.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis