TIP-OFF Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

tip-off

[tip-awf, -of]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Informal.

the act of tipping off.
a hint or warning.
They got a tip-off on the raid.

tip-off

noun

a warning or hint, esp given confidentially and based on inside information
basketball the act or an instance of putting the ball in play by a jump ball

verb

(tr, adverb) to give a hint or warning to

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of tip-off¹

First recorded in 1910–15; noun use of verb phrase tip off

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Supply with secret or private information; also, warn or alert. For example, The broker often tipped her off about stocks about to go down in price, or Somehow they were tipped off and left the country before the police could catch them. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Star player Tyrese Haliburton, who missed game five with a calf injury, passed a late fitness test before tip-off and managed 14 points, five assists and two steals in 22 minutes of play.

From

Some of the animals were found on land owned by Williams near Llandysul which neighboured Mr Evans' farm, following a local tip-off in March.

From

He also established a hotline for tip-offs from the public and encouraged his online followers to share information on the people around them.

From

Another tip-off suggested that an inmate serving a life sentence would kill Yaxley-Lennon if they were ever placed on the same wing.

From

Yet police refrained from telling the public that they believed the plot was fake "out of an abundance of caution", as they continued to receive tip-offs about other related terror plots.

From

tipoff tip of the iceberg

Browse