tip off

Verb

tip off (third-person singular simple present tips off, present participle tipping off, simple past and past participle tipped off)

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To alert or inform (someone), especially confidentially.
   • An anonymous caller tipped off the police that the suspect would be in the area.
   • Someone must have tipped him off. [A likely explanation for why he has disappeared.]

   Synonyms:

   inform

2. To put the ball in play by throwing it up between two opponents.
   1. To begin.
      • The game tips off in an hour, so hurry back!
3. (obsolete, transitive) To pour out (liquor); to tip the vessel and drink until it is empty.

   Synonyms:

   grass up, snitch

4. (intransitive, transitive, painting) To use a particular brush technique for producing a flawless surface on a wet coat of paint.

   Synonyms:

   lay off