tipping off
Giving advance notice
Tipping off is warning someone about impending danger, investigation, or action—giving them advance notice so they can prepare or escape.
A corrupt official might tip off a suspect before a raid.
The phrase implies insider information passed along, often improperly: Someone tipped off the press about the merger.
In basketball, tipping off refers to the opening jump ball that starts play.
- warningAlert about danger
- alertingGiving urgent notice
- informingConveying facts to another
- leakingAllowing unintended escape
- inside informationConfidential knowledge from sources
snitching · whistleblowing · ratting · betraying · exposing · gratuity · pouring · spilling · toppling · tilting · overturning · insider · confidential · secret · deep throat · anonymous · hint · clue
- disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclosure, disclose, divulge
- communicatingtalking, speaking, telling, sharing, expressing
- guidingadvising, directing, guiding, instructing, leading
- finishingcompleting, finalizing, finishing, done, concluded
tipping offkeeping quiet
Remaining silent
keeping mum · concealing · saying nothing · covering up · stonewalling
tipping offprotecting
Keeping from harm
covering for · shielding · keeping faith · standing aside · falling on one's sword