tip off

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Word: Tip Off

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To "tip off" someone means to give them secret or insider information about something, often to warn them or to inform them about an event that they should know.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "tip off" when you want to describe the action of telling someone important information that they might not already know.
• It is often used in contexts where the information is sensitive or could be related to something serious, like a crime or a surprise event.

Example:

• "He tipped off the police about the terrorist plot."
  • In this sentence, someone informed the police about a dangerous situation.

Advanced Usage:

• "The journalist was tipped off about the upcoming scandal before it became public."
  • Here, the journalist received information that was not yet known to the public.

Word Variants:

• Noun: "Tip-off" (e.g., "The police received a tip-off about the robbery.")
• Adjective: "Tip-off" can also describe a situation where someone is alerted (e.g., "He had a tip-off from a friend that the event was canceled.")

Different Meanings:

• "Tip-off" can also refer to the act of starting a basketball game when the referee throws the ball into the air for players to jump and catch.

Synonyms:

• Inform
• Advise
• Alert
• Warn
• Notify

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Get a tip-off": To receive insider information.

  • Example: "She got a tip-off about the job opening before it was publicly announced."

• "Tip someone off": This is just another way of saying to inform someone.

  • Example: "I tipped her off about the surprise party."

Summary:

"Tip off" is a useful verb for expressing the act of providing important information, especially in contexts involving warnings or secrets.

Academic

Verb

1. give insider information or advise to
   • He tipped off the police about the terrorist plot

Synonyms

• tip