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snitch

/snɪtʃ/
/snɪtʃ/
IPA guide

Other forms: snitched; snitching; snitches

To snitch is to tattle on someone, and a snitch is someone who tattles. If you snitch on your brother when he "borrows" five dollars without asking, he might call you a snitch — but, on the bright side, he'll probably have to pay you back.

The oldest meaning of the informal snitch is "to betray" or, as a noun, "informer." This probably stems from 18th-century underworld slang, in which snitch meant "nose" — perhaps because a snitch is really nosy. A newer definition of snitch, "to steal," is thought to be a variation on snatch, and it first appeared around the turn of the 20th century. In the Harry Potter books, a snitch is a winged, golden ball used in the game of Quidditch.

Definitions of snitch
  1. verb
    give away information about somebody
    see moresee less
    types:
    sell out
    give information that compromises others
    type of:
    inform
    impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to
  2. noun
    someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
    see moresee less
    type of:
    betrayer, blabber, informer, rat, squealer
    one who reveals confidential information in return for money
  3. verb
    take by theft
    “Someone snitched my wallet!”
    synonyms: cop, glom, hook, knock off, thieve
    see moresee less
    type of:
    steal
    take without the owner's consent
Pronunciation
US
/snɪtʃ/
UK
/snɪtʃ/
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