tip-off

• tipoff

Deverbal from tip off.

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tip-off (plural tip-offs)

1. (idiomatic) An obvious clue or indication.

   The broken window and overturned plant pots were a tip-off that something was wrong.

2. (idiomatic) A report of suspicious behaviour, especially to an authority.

   The police received a tip-off about a recent bank robbery.

   • 1986 August 16, Marcos Bisticas-Cocoves, “Harry Hay Barred from Carrying NAMBLA Sign”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 5, page 1:

     Haws also alleged that Hay was engaged in a conspiracy to disrupt the parade. "People called a week before and said he would be doing something." The alleged tip-off was anonymous.

• tip off (verb)

• “tip-off”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.
• “tip-off”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “tip-off”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “tip-off”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.