screw up move up
n.— «The practice called “screw up move up” takes place by utilizing sexual favors with fellow employees to work up the chain of command, and also by violating policies and laws, an employee can screw up, not be charged or fired, and move up the chain of command at a later time.» —“Law enforcement advocates report uncovers compromises and corruption within U.S. Government” by Friends Of The Border Patrol Borderfire Report (Euless, Texas) Nov. 16, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
What’s up with ketchup? The shifting history and spelling of the name of this condiment. For centuries, ketchup was a fishy sauce originating in Asia—the tomatoes came only later! Plus, a new book shows what’s lost when a language dies: when there...
Sara in Camden, New Jersey, wants a word for those people who are more than acquaintances, but not quite friends. She calls them friendlies, but wonders if there’s a better term. Fracquaintance, maybe? The Danish band Mew has an album called...