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]