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to grass

to grass

1 9.9
To tell the police that someone has done something wrong
  • verb
  • /ɡrɑːs/
  • Slang
: 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 give away
vsto grass
130 3.4

Tell a secret on purpose or by accident

is specifically intentional reporting to authorities expressed in British slang
to rat
vsto grass
  • Informal
119 8.8

To betray others by telling secret information about them

shares betrayal and informing but is specific British slang
to rat out
vsto grass
  • Informal
80 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 snitch
vsto grass
  • Slang
51 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
47 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 betray
vsto grass
24 4.6

Tell someone's secret to other people

is narrower, focusing on telling authorities about wrongdoing in slang
to denounce
vsto grass
  • Formal
1 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
1 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
6 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

grass roots
  • Informal
36 3.3

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

5 4.2

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

wheat-grass
  • Specialized
3 5.1

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

2 3.5

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

2 3.0

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

1 6.9

A grass with a sweet smell that grows near water

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

1 3.4

Grass that grows in meadows and feeds farm animals

1 4.4

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

An area with grass growing on it

1 7.5

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

1 4.2

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

switch grass
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A tall North American grass that farmers cut for hay and to prevent soil erosion

1 3.9

Grass that grows tall in wet, rich places

1 3.7

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

1 2.5

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

1 7.7

A low-growing plant that grows back each year with silvery undersides on its leaves

1 8.7

A tall grass that spreads quickly and often grows as a harmful weed sometimes used for animal feed

1 4.2

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

panic grass
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A grass grown for grain or animal feed

rye grass
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A grass often grown for lawns or animal feed

1 9.1

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

1 2.7

A small harmless green or striped snake often found in grass

A low grass that forms a thick green mat for lawns in warm places

1 8.3

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

1 6.1

A strong grass grown for hay to feed farm animals

1 6.8

A tall grass with large feathery flower heads grown in gardens

1 6.9

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

A tall decorative grass with long curved flower heads that people use in gardens

1 5.6

A tall grass with feathery flower heads that grows near rivers and marshes

bunch grass
  • Specialized
1 6.6

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

1 8.2

A grass that grows on plains for animals to eat

grass family
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A family of plants including grasses like wheat and bamboo

1 7.9

A grass with tall stalks and bright green leaves used for lawns and pasture

wire grass
  • Australian
1 8.2

A coarse one-year grass that has long thin flower spikes and often grows as a weed

grass widow
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A woman whose husband is away for a long time, for example after divorce or separation

1 4.2

A harmless European snake with a yellow collar

star grass
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A wildflower with grasslike leaves and small star-shaped flowers

1 8.3

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

rice grass
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A long-lived grass like wild rice that grows in North America and is eaten by animals

bent grass
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A grass with fine leaves used for lawns and golf greens

1 3.1

An animal that eats grass

1 8.1

A small plant grown each year for animal feed and food in dry areas

1 7.9

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

A tall grass that lives for many years and grows in wet places like riverbanks and ditches

1 8.8

A common weed with long stems under the ground that spreads quickly through lawns

silver grass
  • Australian
1 8.6

A tall plant with long, shiny silver leaves that grows in fields

1 8.0

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

1 7.8

A grasslike plant with small edible parts under the ground that often grows as a weed

1 6.8

A rough grass that grows as a common yard weed with thin flower spikes

1 7.7

A tall grass used to make brooms

1 5.4

A grass used for lawns and animal feed in warm areas

1 8.1

A small plant like clover with a sour taste that people eat as a green

cereal grass
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A grass plant grown for food grains like wheat or rice

1 9.8

A European grass that grows as a weed and has sharp seeds that can injure farm animals that eat it

kikuyu grass
  • Australian
1 6.5

A fast-growing tough grass from East Africa used for lawns, grazing animals and stopping soil erosion

A tall garden grass with feathery flower spikes used for decoration

1 6.0

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

1 9.1

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

rush grass
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A plant with thin tough stems that grows in wet places like marshes

cord grass
  • Specialized
1 7.2

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

finger grass
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A common grass that often grows as a weed in fields and lawns

A tall rough grass from Europe and Asia that looks like oats and grows by roads and fields

1 8.4

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

barnyard grass
  • Specialized
1 7.5

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

1 7.5

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

1 5.1

A fine grass used for lawns and for smooth golf greens

1 9.8

A grass that grows in wet places with a sweet smell or taste

1 5.5

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

1 2.7

A common European frog that lives on land and in water and is often green or brown

1 9.9

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

1 8.1

A coarse grass that grows on sandy shores and keeps sand in place

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

How Betraying

to betray
24 4.6
to snitch
  • Slang
51 7.9
to grass
  • Slang
1 9.9
to report
∞ 1.6
to inform
682 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.