tip-off

[tip-awf, -of] /ˈtɪpˌɔf, -ˌɒf/
noun, Informal.
1.
the act of tipping off.
2.
a hint or warning:
They got a tip-off on the raid.
Origin
1910-15; noun use of verb phrase tip off

tip3

[tip] /tɪp/
noun
1.
a small present of money given directly to someone for performing a service or menial task; gratuity:
He gave the waiter a dollar as a tip.
2.
a piece of private or secret information, as for use in betting, speculating, or writing a news story:
a tip from a bookie.
3.
a useful hint or idea; a basic, practical fact:
tips on painting.
verb (used with object), tipped, tipping.
4.
to give a gratuity to.
verb (used without object), tipped, tipping.
5.
to give a gratuity:
She tipped lavishly.
Verb phrases
6.
tip off, Informal.
  1. to supply with private or secret information; inform.
  2. to warn of impending danger or trouble; caution beforehand:
    The moonshiners had been tipped off that they were about to be raided.
Origin
1600-10; perhaps special use of tip4
Related forms
tipless, adjective
tippable, adjective
Synonyms
3. suggestion, pointer.
British Dictionary definitions for tip off

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
3.
(transitive, adverb) to give a hint or warning to

tip1

/tɪp/
noun
1.
the extreme end of something, esp a narrow or pointed end
2.
the top or summit
3.
a small piece forming an extremity or end: a metal tip on a cane
verb (transitive) tips, tipping, tipped
4.
to adorn or mark the tip of
5.
to cause to form a tip
Derived Forms
tipless, adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Old Norse typpa; related to Middle Low German, Middle Dutch tip

tip2

/tɪp/
verb tips, tipping, tipped
1.
to tilt or cause to tilt
2.
usually foll by over or up. to tilt or cause to tilt, so as to overturn or fall
3.
(Brit) to dump (rubbish, etc)
4.
tip one's hat, to take off, raise, or touch one's hat in salutation
noun
5.
the act of tipping or the state of being tipped
6.
(Brit) a dump for refuse, etc
Derived Forms
tippable, adjective
Word Origin
C14: of uncertain origin; related to top1, topple

tip3

/tɪp/
noun
1.
a payment given for services in excess of the standard charge; gratuity
2.
a helpful hint, warning, or other piece of information
3.
a piece of inside information, esp in betting or investing
verb tips, tipping, tipped
4.
to give a tip to (a person)
Word Origin
C18: perhaps from tip4

tip4

/tɪp/
verb (transitive) tips, tipping, tipped
1.
to hit or strike lightly
2.
to hit (a ball) indirectly so that it glances off the bat in cricket
noun
3.
a light blow
4.
a glancing hit in cricket
Word Origin
C13: perhaps from Low German tippen
Word Origin and History for tip off

tip

v.

"to slope, overturn," c.1300, possibly from Scandinavian, or a special use of tip (n.). Intransitive sense of "fall over" is recorded from 1520s. Related: Tipped; tipping. Tipping point attested by 1972.

"give a small present of money to," c.1600, "to give, hand, pass," originally thieves' cant, perhaps from tip (v.3) "to tap." The meaning "give a gratuity to" is first attested 1706. The noun in this sense is from 1755; the meaning "piece of confidential information" is from 1845; the verb in this sense is from 1883; tipster first recorded 1862. For urban legendary origin as an acronym, see here.

"light, sharp blow or tap," mid-15c., possibly from Low German tippen "to poke, touch lightly," related to Middle Low German tip "end, point," and thus connected to tip (n.); or else connected with tap (v.) "to strike lightly." The noun in this sense is attested from 1560s.

n.

"end, point, top," early 13c., from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch tip "utmost point, extremity, tip" (cf. German zipfel, a diminutive formation); perhaps cognate with Old English tæppa "stopper" (see tap (n.)), from Proto-Germanic *tupp- "upper extremity." Tip-top is from 1702.

Slang definitions & phrases for tip off

tip

noun

: our tip to him would be to behave (1845+)

verb

(also tip off) To give useful information or advice, esp advance information that gives an advantage of some sort: The room clerk tipped him/ Who tipped Larkin off? (1749+, variant 1891+)

[origin uncertain; perhaps fr the notion of tipping, that is, tilting something in someone's direction]


tip-off

noun

A revealing, esp a warning; a particularly useful clue: the tip-off on what's ahead (1901+)


Related Abbreviations for tip off

TIP

  1. technology investment plan
  2. total inorganic phosphate
Idioms and Phrases with tip off

tip off

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. [ ; late 1800s ]

tip

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