grassing up
Betraying to police
Grassing up is British slang for informing on someone to authorities—telling police, teachers, or bosses about another person's wrongdoing.
The grass in question is an informer, and the phrase carries strong connotations of betrayal: He got five years because his mate grassed him up.
The term is informal and mildly pejorative.
- snitchingInforming on someone
- tipEnd or gratuity
- narkingInforming on someone
- ratRodent or informer
- tattlingReporting others' wrongdoing
ratting out · selling out · whisper · informant · cop · backstabbing · squealing · spilling the beans · loose lips · touting · double-crossing · witness · whistleblowing · dropping a dime · exposing · accusation · blowing the whistle · evidence
grassing upkeeping quiet
Remaining silent
keeping mum · saying nothing · keeping one's mouth shut · protecting · covering for
grass, grasses, grassed, grassing, grassy, grassland, grasslands, grassier, grassiest