drops a dime
Tips off police
To drop a dime is to inform on someone, especially to the police—from the days when a payphone call cost ten cents.
The phrase carries connotations of betrayal or snitching: He dropped a dime on his partner to get a lighter sentence.
In basketball, dropping a dime means delivering a perfect assist pass: She dropped a dime to the center for an easy layup.
- payphonePublic coin-operated telephone
- tip-offAdvance secret warning
- policeCivil law enforcement
- telephoneVoice communication device
- blow the whistleExpose hidden wrongdoing
snitch on · spill the beans · rat out · whistleblowing · tattling · authorities · snitching · hotline · anonymous tip · informant · confidential informant · let the cat out of the bag · evidence · tell tales · revealing · disclosure · exposing · witness
drops a dimekeeps faith
Maintains trust and commitment
has someone's back · keeps one's mouth shut · keeps mum · stands by · rides or dies
drop, drops, dropped, dropping, dropper, droplet, dime, dimes