tip off
[noun]
Synonyms: tip, point, pointer, steer

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English Thesaurus: warn, give somebody a warning, alert, tip somebody off, caution, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

tip somebody ↔ off phrasal verb (see also tip)
to give someone such as the police a secret warning or piece of information, especially about illegal activities:
The police must have been tipped off.
tip somebody off that
His contact had tipped him off that drugs were on the premises.
tip somebody ↔ off about
Did you tip him off about Bernard?

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ˈtip-off noun [countable]

1. informal a secret warning or piece of information, especially one given to the police about illegal activities:
The arrests came after a tip-off from a member of the public.

2. American English informal something that shows you that something is true, even though you did not expect it to be true:
The fact that he hasn’t called should be a tip-off that he’s not interested.

3. the beginning of a basketball game, when the ball is thrown into the air and two players jump up to try to gain control of it

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tip off
noun
ADJ. anonymous | phone VERB + TIP-OFF give sb | get, receive | act on Acting on a tip-off, police raided the house.
PREP. ~ about Customs officers had received a tip-off about a shipment of cocaine.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

warn to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it:
I warned you about sitting out in the sun too long.
We were warned that there could be delays on the motorway, so we took another route.
give somebody a warning to tell someone that if they continue to behave in an unsatisfactory way, they will be punished:
He’s already been given several warnings about handing in his essays late.
The US gave a warning that if the hostages were not released, it would be forced to take military action.
alert to officially or publicly warn people of possible danger so that they can prevent it or be ready to deal with it:
a campaign to alert people to the dangers of smoking
An anonymous caller alerted the police that a bomb was due to go off.
tip somebody off informal to secretly warn someone about something that is going to happen – used especially about warning the police about a crime:
The police found the drugs after being tipped off by local residents.
Informants tipped the FBI off.
caution formal to warn someone to do or not to do something in order to avoid a dangerous or bad result:
People are being cautioned against using credit cards abroad, in case of fraud.
Health officials have cautioned the public to wash fruit thoroughly before eating it.
forewarn /fɔːˈwɔːn $ fɔːrˈwɔːrn/ [usually passive] formal to warn someone about something that is going to happen, so that you are expecting it or ready for it:
We had been forewarned that the roads weren’t very good.
warning something that you say or do to tell people about danger, or to tell them not to do something:
All cigarette packets carry a government health warning.
She ignored her parents' warnings.
The army issued a warning that anyone who was out on the streets after dark was likely to be shot.
tip-off informal a warning that someone is about to do something, especially one given to the police about a crime:
Police were called to the hotel after a tip-off.
advisory formal an official warning or notice that gives information about a dangerous situation:
The air pollution gets so bad on some days that health advisories are posted at park entrances.
caveat formal a warning that something may not be completely true, effective etc. Also used when pointing out that it is important to remember something:
The woman was offered treatment, but with the caveat that it had only a 30% chance of success.
One caveat is that you must take the goods back to the shop within 14 days.
There is one important caveat to this argument.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

warning something that you say or do to tell people about danger, or to tell them not to do something:
All cigarette packets carry a government health warning.
She ignored her parents' warnings.
The army issued a warning that anyone who was out on the streets after dark was likely to be shot.
caution formal an official warning or a piece of advice telling you to be careful:
Caution: do not install electrical equipment near or around water sources.
The video begins with a caution that you must do some warm-up exercises first.
tip-off informal a warning that someone is about to do something, especially one given to the police about a crime:
Police were called to the hotel after a tip-off.
alert a warning to be ready for possible danger that may happen soon:
Twelve flood alerts have been issued to areas along the River Severn.
a fire alert
The ambulance services were on red alert (=they were ready to take action immediately).
advisory formal an official warning or notice that gives information about a dangerous situation:
The air pollution gets so bad on some days that health advisories are posted at park entrances.
caveat formal a warning that something may not be completely true, effective etc. Also used when pointing out that it is important to remember something:
The woman was offered treatment, but with the caveat that it had only a 30% chance of success.
One caveat is that you must take the goods back to the shop within 14 days.
There is one important caveat to this argument.
a warning sign
Don’t ignore the warning signs of stress.
a warning shot
Troops fired warning shots over the heads of demonstrators.
a warning light
Red warning lights were flashing.
a warning look/glance
She gave me a warning look, but I carried on.
a warning gesture
He put his finger to his lips in a warning gesture.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

tip off
tip off (someone)
to give information to someone.
Rawson tipped off the Bennetts about this great place to have lunch in Old San Juan.

Usage notes: often said about information given to the police or other authorities:
Someone called the police to tip them off that the painting was in a locker at the bus station.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tip off
to warn/inform someone
The bank tipped off the police that there was going to be a robbery at the bank.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tip off
v., informal To tell something not generally known; tell secret facts to; warn.
The class president tipped off the class that it was the superintendent's birthday.
The thieves did not rob the bank as planned because someone tipped them off that it was being watched by the police.
Compare: PUT WISE.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tip someone off
to warn/inform someone
The bank tipped off the police that there was going to be a robbery at the bank.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tip off someone
tip off (someone)
to give information to someone.
Rawson tipped off the Bennetts about this great place to have lunch in Old San Juan.

Usage notes: often said about information given to the police or other authorities:
Someone called the police to tip them off that the painting was in a locker at the bus station.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲