dropping a dime
Calling the cops
Dropping a dime is informing on someone, especially to police or authorities.
The phrase comes from the ten-cent cost of a payphone call—the informant drops a dime to make the call that turns someone in.
He dropped a dime on his partner to cut a deal with prosecutors.
Now used broadly for any act of snitching or reporting misconduct.
- informingConveying facts to another
- snitchingInforming on someone
- policeCivil law enforcement
- ratting outExposing someone's wrongdoing
- notifyingCommunicating information formally
betraying · whistleblowing · revealing · disclosing · crime · alerting · blowing the whistle · payphone · spilling the beans · loose lips · confessing · testimony · witness · witness protection · on the record · tattling · selling out · turning state's evidence
dropping a dimekeeping mum
Staying deliberately silent
keeping quiet · stonewalling · clamming up · covering up · keeping one's mouth shut
dropping a dimehaving someone's back
Providing reliable support
falling on one's sword · omertà · no snitching · keeping the faith