1、 向…通风报信;告密(尤指关于非法活动或秘密信息);
2、 提醒;提示(关于即将发生的事或关键信息,带“提前告知以规避风险/抓住机会”的意味)。
向某人通风报信/提示某事(sth 是“信息内容”)。
The police were tipped off about the drug deal by an anonymous caller.
警方通过匿名电话收到了关于毒品交易的密报。
Can you tip me off on the best time to buy flight tickets?
你能提醒我买机票的最佳时间吗?
向某人告密/提示…(that 引导同位语从句,说明“信息的具体内容”)。
A neighbor tipped us off that the landlord was going to raise the rent.
邻居提醒我们房东要涨房租了。
He tipped off the FBI that the suspect would be at the airport.
他向联邦调查局告密说嫌疑人会在机场。
某人被通风报信/提示。
The thieves were tipped off and left the scene before the police arrived.
小偷收到了通风报信,在警察到达前逃离了现场。
I was tipped off that the restaurant would be closed for renovation.
我被提醒这家餐厅要装修停业了。
The arrest was based on a tip-off from a local resident.
这次逮捕是基于一名当地居民的密报。
Do you have any tip-offs about the upcoming exam?
你有关于即将到来的考试的提示吗?
tip off 是及物短语,必须接“人”作宾语,不能省略(如不能说 tip off about the robbery,需说 tip the police off about the robbery)。
相比正式的 inform(告知),tip off 更口语化,且隐含“秘密/私下告知”的意味(如“告密”“悄悄提醒”)。