tip-off

American  

[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.

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tip-off British  

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

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verb

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

tip off Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of tip-off

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

Example Sentences

The birds noisily fight over their stolen feast, a potential tip-off to other scavengers.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Redick said Friday he expected James could return against the Knicks, but he was ruled out shortly before tip-off.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

The following week Anne was back on babysitting duties and made sure to thank Sgt Phelps and his family for the kind tip-off.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

Kaddour-Cherif was arrested three days later in Finsbury Park after a tip-off from a member of the public.

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2026

And yet here was a Reader’s Digest story providing a tip-off for any Japanese official who happened to see it.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield