tip-off

[ tip-awf, -of ]

noun

, Informal.

1. the act of tipping off.
2. a hint or warning:

   They got a tip-off on the raid.

tip-off

noun

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

verb

1. tr, adverb to give a hint or warning to

Word History and Origins

Origin of tip-off¹

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

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]

Example Sentences

A tip-off from British intelligence led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

From The Daily Beast

Jacques nodded, explaining that the message, relayed by tip-off men to his uncle, had been intended for Joe Matt.

From Project Gutenberg

And if that doesn't mean anything to you, here's the tip-off.

From Project Gutenberg

That's the tip-off; when a souse won't listen to your gentle voice, it's time to change your system of approach.

From Project Gutenberg

He realized that the act had been an immediate tip-off to the occupants of the other rocket.

From Project Gutenberg

The tip-off was the hundred percent pregnancy of one whole test-batch.

From Project Gutenberg