tip off
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To give someone, especially an authority, confidential or advance information about something, typically about an illegal or secret activity.
- To warn or advise someone privately about something that is about to happen.
Usage
- The verb "tip off" is used with an object (the person or group receiving the information) and is often followed by "about" to specify the subject of the information.
- It is commonly used in contexts involving law enforcement, journalism, or competitive situations where secret information provides an advantage.
Examples
- Verb:
- An anonymous caller tipped off the police about the planned robbery.
- The journalist was tipped off by a source inside the company.
- Did someone tip you off before the surprise inspection?
Advanced Usage
- Passive Voice: Frequently used in the passive voice ("to be tipped off").
- The authorities were tipped off and arrived at the scene just in time.
- Noun Form ("tip-off"): The act of giving such information or the information itself.
- The raid was a result of an anonymous tip-off.
- He got a tip-off that the stock price was going to fall.
Variants and Related Words
- Tip-off (noun): The information given or the act of informing.
- Acting on a tip-off, detectives searched the warehouse.
- Tip (verb): Can be used similarly, often without "off," especially in British English.
- He tipped the authorities about the smuggling ring.
Synonyms
- Inform on/against: To give information about someone's wrongdoing to an authority.
- Alert: To warn someone about a danger or problem.
- Notify: To inform someone of something, typically in a formal or official manner.
Phrasal Verbs
- Tip off is itself a phrasal verb. Its components are not typically separated by the object; the object usually comes after the full phrasal verb.
- Correct: She tipped off the media.
- Less common: She tipped the media off.
Related Idioms
- Drop a dime (on someone) (US slang): To inform the police about someone's criminal activities.
- He dropped a dime on his former partners to get a lighter sentence.
Verb
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give insider information or advise to
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He tipped off the police about the terrorist plot
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