wet one's beak

Verb

 * 1)  To drink a beverage.
 * 2)  To take one's share from the financial proceeds of illicit activity.
 * 3) * 1996, Mario Puzo, The Last Don (2004 Random House edition), ISBN 9780345480712, 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."
 * 1)  To take one's share from the financial proceeds of illicit activity.
 * 2) * 1996, Mario Puzo, The Last Don (2004 Random House edition), ISBN 9780345480712, 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

 * get a piece of the pie, get a piece of the action
 * get a piece of the pie, get a piece of the action