delate

A neighbor decided to delate the vandalism to the authorities.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To accuse or inform against: "delate" means to formally accuse someone of wrongdoing or to report someone's actions, often to an authority.
   • To report (an offense): It can also refer to the act of reporting a crime or legal violation to the proper authorities.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • He was delated to the principal for cheating on the exam. (He was formally accused and reported for academic dishonesty.)
  • The witness delated the crime to the police immediately. (The witness reported the offense to law enforcement.)

Advanced Usage

• "to delate someone to": to formally accuse or report a person to a specific authority.

  • The employee delated his colleague to the manager for stealing office supplies. (He reported his colleague's theft to the manager.)

• "delated for": accused or reported due to a particular action.

  • She was delated for spreading false rumors. (She was formally accused of spreading misinformation.)

Variants and Related Words

• Delation (n): the act of accusing or reporting someone.

  • The delation of the suspect was based on strong evidence. (The formal accusation was supported by solid proof.)

• Delator (n): a person who accuses or informs against someone.

  • The delator remained anonymous to avoid retaliation. (The informant kept their identity secret.)

Synonyms

• Accuse: to charge someone with a fault or offense.
• Denounce: to publicly declare someone to be wrong or evil.
• Inform against: to give incriminating information about someone to an authority.

Phrasal Verbs

• Delate on: to provide information about someone's wrongdoing.
  • He delated on his partner to save himself from punishment. (He informed on his partner to avoid consequences.)

Related Idioms

• To blow the whistle on: to expose wrongdoing, often by reporting it.

  • She decided to blow the whistle on the company's illegal practices. (She reported the illegal activities to authorities.)

• To turn someone in: to report a person to the police or other authority.

  • The neighbor turned the fugitive in for a reward. (The neighbor reported the fugitive to the police.)