# tip the wink

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tip-the-wink
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To give (somebody) a hint or suggestion, as if by a wink; to ask or tell surreptitiously.

## Examples

- He tipped me the wink when the boss walked in.
- She tipped the wink to her friend that it was time to leave the party early.
- The veteran detective tipped the wink to his partner, signaling that the suspect was about to reveal the location of the stolen goods.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.