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.

Related

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

Opposites
loyalty and silence

grassing upkeeping quiet

Remaining silent

keeping mum · saying nothing · keeping one's mouth shut · protecting · covering for

relationship to authority

grassing upaiding and abetting

Helping another commit crime

harboring · no comment

Family

grass, grasses, grassed, grassing, grassy, grassland, grasslands, grassier, grassiest

Familiarity
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Profile
Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG