tip off

present singular third person tips off · participle present tipping off · participle past tipped off · past tipped off

1. idiomatictransitiveTo alert or inform (someone), especially confidentially.

   An anonymous caller tipped off the police that the suspect would be in the area.

   1 more example

   Someone must have tipped him off. [A likely explanation for why he has disappeared.]

   Synonyms: inform

2. ball gamesTo put the ball in play by throwing it up between two opponents.
   1. ball gamesTo begin.

      The game tips off in an hour, so hurry back!

3. obsoletetransitiveTo pour out (liquor); to tip the vessel and drink until it is empty.

   Synonyms: grass up, snitch

4. intransitivetransitivepaintingTo use a particular brush technique for producing a flawless surface on a wet coat of paint.

   Synonyms: lay off