tip-off

/ˈtɪp.ɒf/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɪp.ɑːf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtip-ˌȯf How to pronounce tip-off (audio)/ (ame, mw)

tip-off — noun

1. A secret warning given to someone, typically from an anonymous source, about a f

1.名詞B2
釋義

A secret warning given to someone, typically from an anonymous source, about a future criminal act or other dishonest activity before it takes place.

例句

The police acted on a tip-off and arrested the gang before the robbery took place.

acted on a tip-off — to take action based on a warning

Nora received a tip-off that her company was about to be investigated for fraud.

同義詞
  • warning

    broader meaning not limited to secret information

  • lead

    used in investigation contexts, less certain than a tip-off

  • inside information

    stronger emphasis on the source having privileged access

用法筆記

Commonly patterns as "a tip-off about [something]" or "receive/act on a tip-off that [clause]". The giver is usually an anonymous source or informant.

常見錯誤

❌She gave me a tip about the police raid.
✅She gave me a tip-off about the police raid.
💡A 'tip' is general advice; a 'tip-off' is a secret warning of a specific event.

2. The action that starts a basketball game or restarts play, in which the referee

2.名詞C1
釋義

The action that starts a basketball game or restarts play, in which the referee throws the ball high into the air and one player from each team jumps to try and hit it to a teammate.

例句

The game began with a tip-off between the two tallest players on court.

Gabriel won the tip-off and passed the ball to his teammate for a fast break.

won the tip-off — describes the player who gains possession

同義詞

用法筆記

Almost always refers to the start of a basketball game. Distinguish from sense 1 (SECRET WARNING): if the context involves sports and a referee, this is the intended meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The soccer match started with a tip-off.
✅The soccer match started with a kick-off.
💡A tip-off is specific to basketball.

tip-off — phrasal verb