DictionarygrassInforming on someone
noun / verb

grass

Reporting someone's wrongdoing to the authorities.

In the British drama, he threatens to grass on his accomplice.

Etymology

Probably shortened rhyming slang: grasshopper for copper, a police officer. The detailed history of the informer sense is uncertain.

More examples

  • She refuses to grass on her friends.
  • The character was accused of grassing to the police.
  • In that slang use, grass means inform on someone.

Forms

grass · grasses · grassed · grassing

Similar words

inform
The neutral verb; grass is chiefly British slang.
report
The neutral verb; grass is chiefly British slang.