4-1-1
Phone help line
4-1-1 is the telephone number for directory assistance in North America—the service that provides phone numbers and addresses.
From this, 4-1-1 became slang for information generally: What's the 4-1-1 on the new boss?
Give me the 4-1-1.
The slang peaked in 1990s hip-hop culture but remains recognizable.
information
Knowledge about something
- assistanceSupport or aid given
- operatorOne who works machinery
- telephoneVoice communication device
inquiry · hotline · listings · number · local · business · lookup · phonebook · directory assistance · call
scoop
First-reported story
- lowdownEssential inside facts
- detailsSpecific pieces of information
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
update · intel · news · backstory · skinny · rundown · word · dish · inside story · tip
4-1-19-1-1
Crisis response number
911 · emergency services · emergency hotline · crisis line · poison control
4-1-1disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
ignorance · misinformation · secrecy · silence · cover-up