drop a dime

English

Alternative forms

• drop a nickel

Etymology

See dime § Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

drop a dime (third-person singular simple present drops a dime, present participle dropping a dime, simple past and past participle dropped a dime)

1. (idiomatic, slang) To make a telephone call, usually calling authorities to report another's activities.

   He was in the back for a few minutes. Turned out he was dropping a dime on Ralph.

   • 1995, Clockers, 00:26:00:

     We got a crowd of black, white customers, out-of-state license plates, what have you. Somebody gonna check that out. They gonna drop a dime on me, call 911. With my jacket, I can't go back to jail.

2. (slang, with on) To inform (on).

Synonyms

• (to inform on): dime, grass up, snitch; See also Thesaurus:rat out

Related terms

• dime-dropper
• dime on