Street
skim
What does skim mean?
To skim is to secretly divert a portion of cash, especially from a casino or business, before it is recorded, so the take goes untaxed and untraced.
"The count room let them skim a slice off the top every night."
Origin
American organized-crime slang; from skimming cream off milk.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'skim' mean in organized-crime slang?
To skim is to secretly take a cut of cash, especially from a casino or business, before it is officially counted or reported, so the money is untaxed and untraceable.
Where does the term come from?
It comes from skimming the cream off the top of milk. The criminal 'skim' takes the best cut off the top of the money before it is recorded.
Why skim before the count?
Diverting cash before it is recorded means there is no paper trail. The skimmed money never appears in the books, so it escapes taxes and investigators.
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