Meanings
plural tip-offs · alternative tipoff
- idiomaticAn obvious clue or indication.
The broken window and overturned plant pots were a tip-off that something was wrong.
- idiomaticA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority.
The police received a tip-off about a recent bank robbery.
1 more example
Haws also alleged that Hay was engaged in a conspiracy to disrupt the parade. "People called a week before and said he would be doing something." The alleged tip-off was anonymous.
1986 August 16, Marcos Bisticas-Cocoves, “Harry Hay Barred from Carrying NAMBLA Sign”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 5, page 1 - ball gamesJump ball that starts a game.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Deverbal from tip off.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German Tipp, Hinweis
- TippA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
- HinweisA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
Italian soffiata
- soffiataA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
Polish cynk
- cynkA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
Spanish chivatazo, soplo
- chivatazoA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
- soploA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
Turkish ihbar
- ihbarA report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority
Cite this entry
tip-off. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tip-off
“tip-off.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tip-off. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tip-off,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tip-off.
Source: tip-off on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.