Wet your beak

"Wet your beak" is an idiomatic expression that has two meanings. The first meaning is to partake in part of the profits of another person's business, usually as a result of extortion, especially in reference to organized crime, particularly "protection money" paid to the Italian Mafia. The second meaning is to drink a beverage.

wet (one's) beak (redirected from wet your beak)
wet (one's) beak
To partake in part of the profits of another person's business, usually as a result of extortion. (Used especially in reference to organized crime, particularly "protection money" paid to the Italian Mafia.)

Trust me, you're better off just giving him what he wants whenever he comes round to wet his beak. If you don't pay up, you'll have bigger problems.
See also: beak, wet

Don Fanucci in The Godfather:

Young man, I hear you and your friends are stealing goods. But you don't even send a dress to my house. No respect! You know I've got three daughters. This is my neighborhood. You and your friends should show me some respect. You should let me wet my beak a little. I hear you and your friends cleared $600 each. Give me $200 each, for your own protection. And I'll forget the insult. You young punks have to learn to respect a man like me! Otherwise the cops will come to your house. And your family will be ruined. Of course, if I'm wrong about how much you stole, I'll take a little less. And by less, I only mean - a hundred bucks less. Now don't refuse me. Understand, paisan? Understand, paisan?... Tell your friends I don't want a lot. Just enough to wet my beak. Don't be afraid to tell them!