drop a dime
Rat someone out
To drop a dime is to inform on someone, typically to the police.
The phrase comes from the time when pay phones cost a dime—making a call to turn someone in.
It usually implies betrayal: He dropped a dime on his partner to get a lighter sentence.
The informer is sometimes called a dime-dropper.
One who tells authorities
- rat outInform against an accomplice
- tip offSecretly inform beforehand
- reportFormal written findings
- tattleReveal another's wrongdoing
squeal · informant · tipster · whistleblower · leak · anonymous tip · police · authorities
snitch
One who tells authorities
tattle · squeal · informant · tipster · whistleblower · leak · anonymous tip · police · authorities · phone call
snitch
One who tells authorities
double-cross · traitor · turncoat · betrayer · informant · treachery · disloyalty · two-faced · Judas · perfidy
drop a dimeomertà
Criminal vow of silence
keep mum · omerta · stand up · keep one's mouth shut · say nothing
drop a dimecover up
Conceal misdeeds or errors
hush up · shield · keep quiet · suppress
drop, drops, dropped, dropping, dropper, droplet, dime, dimes