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to shop

to shop

12 8.0
To tell the police or a manager that someone did something wrong
  • verb
  • /ʃɑp/
  • Informal
translation icon : chivarse (informal, España)
  • You gonna shop it around at school?

Examples

  • I gotta dig up the facts and then I gotta shop it around to every paper in town.

  • Todd Archer brings up the idea of shopping Mike Jenkins.

    Blog text (12)
  • Look, you can shop it around if you want, boys.

  • Tell me why I shouldn't shop you.

  • This man been out there shopping our stuff around trying to get money for Ruthless.

  • Is it really correct that students are expected to shop (grass on) one another?

    Blog text (21)
  • "You have to be flexible and really shop around," Reid says.

    Blog text (7)
  • And yet the Marlins are apparently shopping for alternatives a day after the season ends.

    Blog text (15)
  • Legislation enacted in the mid-2000s moved class-action lawsuits to federal courts, instead of allowing attorneys to shop around to plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions.

    Academic text (2010)
  • If you see any suspicious activity, don't hesitate to shop the information to the authorities.

Synonyms

to report
vsto shop
686 1.6

To tell someone in authority that a person has broken a rule or law

is used more generally for informing someone in charge about wrongdoing
to betray
vsto shop
143 4.6

Tell someone's secret to other people

is specifically about informing authorities about wrongdoing rather than general disclosure
to give away
vsto shop
114 3.4

Tell a secret on purpose or by accident

involves informing authorities about wrongdoing rather than general accidental disclosure
to rat
vsto shop
  • Informal
70 8.8

To betray others by telling secret information about them

is focused on informing authorities about wrongdoing without insulting tone
to inform
vsto shop
41 6.8

To secretly tell the police about someone's illegal actions

is the act of informing authorities without implying secrecy
to snitch
vsto shop
  • Slang
36 7.9

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

is similar but focuses on informing without stressing betrayal
to tell on
vsto shop
  • Informal
35 4.4

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

is about informing authorities but does not always imply punishment
to grass
vsto shop
  • Slang
1 9.9

To tell the police that someone has done something wrong

is the neutral act of informing authorities rather than a slang accusation
to dob in
vsto shop
  • UK
1 9.9

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

focuses on informing authorities in general, not only direct accusations

Antonyms

1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

691 2.8

To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it

Idioms

3 7.2

A clumsy or careless person who causes damage in delicate situations

1 7.8

A person who is clumsy and insensitive in delicate situations

A person who thinks they are special and sometimes feels out of place

Phrasal Verbs

62 1.0

To buy things or be a customer at a store

To stop doing business for a short time or forever

To look at items in shop windows without planning to buy

to talk shop
  • Informal
10 6.7

Speak only about work at a party or dinner

To check prices for the same item at different stores or websites before you buy

1 4.7

Close a shop for the day or forever

Compounds

156 1.0

A small cafe where people buy coffee and light food

50 1.0

A shop at a museum or tourist place that sells souvenirs and small presents

19 2.1

A place that fixes things like cars or home appliances

18 1.3

A shop that sells fresh meat and poultry, sometimes fish

13 1.0

A shop that sells animals and supplies for people to keep as pets

chop shop
  • NSFW
12 9.3

A garage where thieves take stolen cars to remove parts

12 2.1

A store that sells guns and ammunition

machine shop
  • Specialized
12 3.7

A workshop where people use tools to cut and shape metal or hard materials

9 2.8

A shop that makes posters, flyers and other paper copies for people

7 3.1

A school course where students learn hands-on skills like building things from wood or metal

6 1.1

A shop that sells women's dresses and matching jewelry

6 2.0

A front window of a shop that shows goods to people passing by

5 1.0

A place that makes and sells pizzas

4 1.3

A place where hairdressers cut and style hair and give treatments for skin and nails

4 6.4

A workplace that only hires people who belong to a union

shop steward
  • Jargon
3 5.8

A worker chosen by other workers to speak for them to management

head shop
  • NSFW
3 8.2

A shop that sells pipes and rolling papers for smoking drugs

shop floor
  • Specialized
3 3.4

The area in a factory where workers use machines to make or assemble goods

3 1.4

A shop that sells wine to take home

2 1.0

A place where people buy shoes like trainers and boots

shop talk
  • Jargon
2 6.5

A conversation about work that uses words only people in the same job understand

2 3.0

A place that repairs household things like clocks and toasters

2 2.1

A shop that sells cheap used things, often with little value

2 3.4

A young woman who helps customers in a shop

1 1.1

A place that sells flowers and potted plants

1 1.0

A shop that sells ready-to-eat meals and other food

1 1.0

A shop that sells hats, often for women

1 3.3

A shop that sells small, unusual or funny gifts

shop boy
  • Archaic
1 2.7

A young man who helps customers in a store

1 5.1

A workplace where new employees must join the workers' union within a set time

1 3.7

A shop where people place bets on sports events

1 1.2

A person who helps customers and sells things in a shop

1 2.6

A shop that sells makeup, skin and hair care products and accessories

A shop that makes books, newspapers, or flyers

1 1.8

A shop that sells cigarettes, cigars, and smoking pipes

bucket shop
  • Archaic
1 9.7

A dishonest broker that tricks people and loses their money

1 1.9

A shop that sells medicines and other health items like toiletries

chop-shop
  • NSFW
1 9.3

An illegal garage that takes stolen cars apart to sell the parts

open shop
  • Jargon
1 5.2

A workplace where workers do not have to join a union or pay its fees

1 1.9

A person who helps customers buy things in a store

A skilled person who repairs and looks after machines in a workshop

bucket shop
  • Archaic
9.9

A cheap bar that sold bad alcohol by the bucket

9.9

A shop where a person makes and sells medicines and home remedies

A small coffee shop that mostly serves espresso and other coffee drinks

A shop that sells tools, nails and metal items for the home

A shop where people leave things to get a loan that may be sold if not paid back

2.8

A shop that sells many everyday items for one pound each

A shop that sells cigarettes, cigars and things for smoking

4.5

A small shop in a school that sells sweets, snacks, and drinks

1.0

A place where people buy shoes

2.0

A small bell on a shop door that rings when a customer enters or leaves

3.3

An online page, like a shop website or social media, that shows products to attract customers

9.9

A shop in the past that sold cheap ready-made clothes often used by sailors

How Willing

to betray
143 4.6
to inform
41 6.8
to shop
  • Informal
12 8.0
to tattle
  • Informal
8 7.0
to hint
136 2.0
to keep quiet
90 2.5

Surface Forms

shop infinitive
shopped past
shopped past participle
shopping present participle
shops third person singular

Etymology

Shop as slang meaning 'to inform' is used when someone tells the police or a manager about another person, and a helpful way to remember it is to think of 'shopping' someone to the authorities.