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Definition of drop a dime
drop a dime
expression
- Long before cell phones, the best way to inform the authorities of a situation without bringing attention to oneself was to use a pay phone, which required the user to "drop a dime" into the slot. As previously mentioned above, today it is frequently misused by sports analysts to refer to a good pass, most commonly in football or basketball. Because the phrase sounds vaguely familiar, once a few ex-jocks started repeating it, the mistaken definition became the norm, to the point where I heard non-jock ESPN writer Bill Barnwell chew out a twitter follower for pointing out the mistake.
Billy dropped a dime on Sally when he saw her take a library book without checking it out. He slipped the librarian a note when she was away from her desk.
Last edited on Jun 13 2019. Submitted by Anonymous on Jun 13 2019.
noun
- I just heard a color commentator covering a college football game say of the Nebraska quarterback, who had just thrown a long touchdown pass, that he "dropped a dime on his receiver." A bit Inigo Montoya, I think.
Last edited on Oct 25 2014. Submitted by Anonymous on Oct 25 2014.
verb
- to inform the authorities (e.g. police) that someone was involved in a crime.
Citation from "Dog and Pony", Terriers (TV, 2010), Season 1 Episode 2 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.- See more words with the same meaning: to betray.
Last edited on Jan 20 2012. Submitted by Joshua S. from Newport, KY 41071, USA on Feb 01 2003.
- to give someone a heads up.
I am going to drop you a dime about this restaurant.
This definition is questionable and is pending deletion. It will be saved from deletion if legitimate citations are found.Last edited on Jan 20 2012. Submitted by Joshua S. from Newport, KY 41071, USA on Feb 01 2003.
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Related words
Slang terms with the same meaning
Other terms relating to 'to betray': | |
| Definitions include: to inform about a crime. | |
| Definitions include: to inform on (i.e. report the misdeeds) of someone else; "tattle". | |
| Definitions include: to report misdeeds to an authority; "narc", "snitch". | |
| Definitions include: to tell on. | |
| Definitions include: a traitor. | |
| Definitions include: to look up someone on the internet. | |
| Definitions include: to do something bad to a person. | |
| Definitions include: to betray, to wrong. | |
| Definitions include: to inform the authorities of a person's involvement in a crime, for personal benefit. | |
| Definitions include: to tell the authorities details of a crime; "rat out". | |
| Definitions include: fairly common misspelling of tattle tale. | |
| Definitions include: to perform fellatio in which the penetration is deep. | |
| Definitions include: to report misdeeds to authorities or authority figures; "tell on". | |
Slang terms with the same root words
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Other terms relating to 'a': | |
| Definitions include: amphetamine. | |
| Definitions include: the best. | |
| Definitions include: something you have now is worth more than two things you have just a chance of getting. | |
| Definitions include: excessive. | |
| Definitions include: sexual activity. | |
| Definitions include: In the West/Central Canadian accent, "about" is pronounced somewhere between "aboot" and "a boat". | |
| Definitions include: a little crazy | |
| Definitions include: an unspecified small number. | |
| Definitions include: to play around. | |
| Definitions include: very common. | |
| Definitions include: a mythical creature who is extremely happy or fortunate. | |
| Definitions include: a non-specified price. | |
| Definitions include: a non-specified price. | |
| Definitions include: to collide with a tree. | |
| Definitions include: an ugly face. | |
Other terms relating to 'dime': | |
| Definitions include: very common. | |
| Definitions include: a very attractive person; "a perfect ten". | |
| Definitions include: $10 of an illegal drug. | |
| Definitions include: to rat on someone | |
| Definitions include: an attractive female; "a 10". | |
| Definitions include: to impoverish someone through small expenses. | |
| Definitions include: To try to take advantage of or take for granted. | |
| Definitions include: rural US slang for a kiss. | |
Other terms relating to 'drop': | |
| Definitions include: at any moment; without persuasion | |
| Definitions include: acronym for "drop dead gorgeous". | |
| Definitions include: acronym for "drop out loser". | |
| Definitions include: to be anally raped in jail. | |
| Definitions include: to take drugs, usually LSD ("acid") or Ecstasy (MDMA). | |
| Definitions include: in music, to play a beat. | |
| Definitions include: to defecate; "poop". | |
| Definitions include: See C-bomb. | |
| Definitions include: have a bowel movement. | |
| Definitions include: to defecate. usually used in a mock-sensuous way or in a lighthearted manner. | |
| Definitions include: to defecate; "poop". | |
| Definitions include: to defecate; "poop". | |
| Definitions include: misspelling of drop a deuce. | |
| Definitions include: to place a large amount of dip (chewing tobacco) between one's cheek and jaw. | |
| Definitions include: a huge fart. | |
How common is this slang?
| I use it | (19) |  |
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| No longer use it | (3) | |
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| Heard it but never used it | (29) | |
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| Have never heard it | (12) | |
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How vulgar is this slang?
Average of 21 votes: 25% (See the most vulgar words.)
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