wet one's beak

== English == === Etymology === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) === Pronunciation === === Verb === wet one's beak (third-person singular simple present wets one's beak, present participle wetting one's beak, simple past and past participle wet one's beak or wetted one's beak) (idiomatic) To drink a beverage. (idiomatic, gangster slang) To take one's share from the financial proceeds of illicit activity. 1996, Mario Puzo, The Last Don (2004 Random House edition), →ISBN, p. 5 (Google preview): "Giorgio," the Don said, ". . . our Family will now serve only as financial advisors to all the other Families. . . . [W]e must protect everyone's money, for which they will let us wet our beaks." ==== Synonyms ==== (drink a beverage): wet one's whistle (take one's share from illicit financial activity): get a piece of the pie, get a piece of the action