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to grass

to grass

1 9.9
To tell the police that someone has done something wrong
  • verb
  • /ɡrɑːs/
  • Slang
translation icon : chivarse (a la policía)
  • If you grass on someone, you risk losing their trust forever.

But he the main, main concern was it wasn't me that grassed Michael up.

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Examples

Synonyms

to betray
vsto grass
143 4.6

Tell someone's secret to other people

is narrower, focusing on telling authorities about wrongdoing in slang
to give away
vsto grass
114 3.4

Tell a secret on purpose or by accident

is specifically intentional reporting to authorities expressed in British slang
to rat out
vsto grass
  • Informal
76 8.6

To tell the police or another authority about someone's bad action, betraying their trust

is the same action but is a specifically British slang term
to rat
vsto grass
  • Informal
70 8.8

To betray others by telling secret information about them

shares betrayal and informing but is specific British slang
to snitch
vsto grass
  • Slang
36 7.9

To secretly tell the police or a person in charge about someone's bad actions

is the same secret informing but labelled as British slang
to tell on
vsto grass
  • Informal
35 4.4

To report to a person in charge that someone did something wrong so they get in trouble

matches this reporting sense but is a British informal term
to denounce
vsto grass
  • Formal
19 6.5

Tell authorities about someone, often exposing them to punishment

overlaps in informing but is more private and slangy in use
to shop
vsto grass
  • Informal
12 8.0

To tell the police or a manager that someone did something wrong

carries the same reporting meaning but in British slang form

Antonyms

1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

1.0

Give help to a person or idea

Idioms

snake in the grass
  • Offensive
5 8.1

A person who pretends to be friendly but secretly harms or tricks you

green as grass
  • Informal
1 7.5

A person who does not know much yet about a job or task

Wait too long to act and miss a chance

1 9.9

A very quiet place where even the smallest sounds seem noticeable

Phrasal Verbs

To make the grass in a garden short using a lawnmower

Cover an area of land with short green plants like those on a lawn

8.4

To take a break from online life and spend time outside in nature

Compounds

6 3.9

Grass that grows tall in wet, rich places

4 4.2

A piece of clothing made from long grass worn for Pacific Island dances

grass roots
  • Informal
4 3.3

Ordinary people in a community who support or begin change at the local level

1 3.5

A strong grass from North American prairies that turns bronze in autumn

A grass that grows along the ground and is used for lawns and fields for animals

1 7.5

A European grass with long underground roots that spreads quickly and becomes a common weed

An area with grass growing on it

1 6.9

A grass with a sweet smell that grows near water

1 6.9

Grass that stays short and survives with little rain on dry open plains

1 3.7

A tough grass with strong roots that grows on sandy shores and stops sand dunes from moving

1 4.4

A low, tough grass used for lawns that needs little water

1 3.0

A tall tropical grass with a strong lemon smell used in cooking and tea

1 3.4

Grass that grows in meadows and feeds farm animals

rye grass
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A grass often grown for lawns or animal feed

panic grass
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A grass grown for grain or animal feed

wheat-grass
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A green grass grown for health drinks, animal food, and to stop soil erosion

bent grass
  • Specialized
4.5

A grass with fine leaves used for lawns and golf greens

A fine grass used for lawns and for smooth golf greens

bay grass
  • Specialized
6.8

A grass planted to feed animals and prevent soil erosion along banks

9.1

A plant that lives for many years with long leaves like grass and tall stalks of white flowers

A rough annual grass grown for edible seeds, animal feed, and wildlife food

A grass with blue-green leaves often used for lawns and fields

A small plant with narrow, grass-like leaves and blue flowers related to irises

A grass whose seeds are used to feed pet birds like canaries

8.1

A grass from Europe that spreads easily and is a common weed

9.9

A wild grass that grows in farm fields and causes problems for crops

A grass that has curved flower spikes and long stiff hairs under each small flower

bunch grass
  • Specialized
6.6

Grasses that grow in separate clumps instead of in one continuous area

bur grass
  • Specialized
9.9

A grass with spiny seeds that stick to animals and can hurt bare feet

A tough grass from North America with leaves that turn pale bronze in autumn

7.7

A tall grass used to make brooms

buffel grass
  • Australian
8.9

A grass that grows in dense clumps and feeds livestock

A grass from the Canary Islands with seeds people use to feed caged birds

cereal grass
  • Specialized
3.4

A grass plant grown for food grains like wheat or rice

7.0

A grass that grows in thick mats and is used for lawns and golf courses

A tall plant grown for strong fiber used to make rope and cloth

A grass from Spain with fine, feathery flower heads used in dried bouquets

A plant that grows in bogs with white fluffy seed heads

A small plant with edible leaves high in vitamin C that sailors used to prevent scurvy

8.3

A plant that grows in bogs with soft white tufts on its stems

cord grass
  • Specialized
7.2

A tall grass that grows in marshes near the sea and helps hold the soil

A grass with stems that spread along the ground and root, often a weed in lawns

A creeping grass with spiky heads like a bird's foot that often grows as a weed

A soft grass with velvety leaves that spreads across meadows and woods

9.9

An Australian grass that lives for many years and has long spikes like a windmill

crested wheat grass
  • Specialized
7.4

A grass from Eurasia that farmers grow for animal feed and to stop soil erosion

9.9

A small fern with thin curly leaves that grow in tight groups

A rare small fern with thin curled leaves that grows in thick clumps on the ground

dallis grass
  • Specialized
8.8

A tall grass often grown for animal feed in warm regions

8.5

A plant that lives for many years with pink or purple flowers in eastern North America

8.0

A strong plant that spreads quickly and is used for lawns and pastures in warm places

8.4

A grass from Europe that spreads quickly by stems under the ground and is a weed in North America

A creeping grass with finger-like spikes used for grazing in dry places

African love grass
  • South African
7.4

A grass from South Africa that grows in clumps and is often planted to stop soil erosion

ague grass
  • Archaic
9.9

A herb from the southeastern United States with rough outer flower parts and small white flowers

Aleppo grass
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall grass that spreads underground and is used for animal food but is a harmful weed

9.3

A plant with grasslike leaves that grows in salty or alkaline soil

A fast-growing water plant with long grass-like leaves that forms thick floating mats

A grasslike plant that lives for many years with star-shaped flowers that grows in North America

arrow grass
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant that grows in shallow water or marshes and can poison farm animals

arrow-grass family
  • Specialized
8.6

A group of small grass-like plants that grow in wet places such as marshes

5.1

A grass used for lawns and animal feed in warm places

7.5

A tough grass used for pasture and lawns in warm dry places

6.0

A grass that grows wild along roads and hedges and is often a weed

Young green leaves of the barley plant used as a health food such as powder or juice

A common weed grass that farmers sometimes cut for hay or feed animals

barnyard grass
  • Specialized
7.5

A common wild grass that grows in wet farm fields and that animals sometimes eat

8.5

A tall grass from Australia with long thin stalks often used for hay

9.9

A tall Australian plant with a thick trunk and long grasslike leaves

A coarse grass like oats that stays green all year on roadsides and meadows

A grass from Europe that grows on sand and holds dunes together

8.8

A grass from Europe and Asia grown on dry plains to feed animals and stop soil washing away

A grass with wide flat leaves grown for lawns and for animals to eat

How Betraying

to betray
143 4.6
to snitch
  • Slang
36 7.9
to grass
  • Slang
1 9.9
to report
1.6
to inform
1.0
to tell
1.0

Surface Forms

grass infinitive
grassed past
grassed past participle
grassing present participle
grasses third person singular

Etymology

Grass (British slang verb 'to inform') follows the noun 'grass' for an informer, so 'to grass' means 'to tell the police' about someone, which is why it means to betray or give information on others.