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]

Example Sentences

The factory raid came after authorities received a tip-off from a worker who had managed to escape.

From BBC

Many affected families have formed search teams, known as "buscadores", who scour the countryside and the deserts of northern Mexico, following tip-offs, often from the cartels themselves, as to the whereabouts of mass graves.

From BBC

The 20-year-old Austrian, who is in custody, was arrested before the concerts following a tip-off from the CIA.

From BBC

Wildlife officials are here after receiving a tip-off that a man was holding lions and cubs without a licence, and was breeding them for sale illegally.

From BBC

For me, this all started a year ago, when I got a tip-off about a BBC presenter said to have been behaving badly - Gregg Wallace.

From BBC