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

He is also convinced that the tip-off which led police to the hideout would not have come from his peers in the sovereign citizen movement.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The judge said the alleged wrongdoing was based solely on "photographs and videos sent" in October 2019 "following an anonymous tip-off," and environmental authorities did not follow up with additional evidence.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

All-City forward Araceli Gonzalez, one of nine Granada Hills seniors honored before tip-off, scored 14 of her team’s first 21 points but was held to four points in the second half.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 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

He acted on the tip-off from Thessicher, waited only until he got word of Estraven’s death, and then resigned.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin