# snitch on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/snitch-on
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to tell a person in authority, like a teacher or the police, that someone else did something wrong.

For teachers: to inform an authority figure of another person's illicit or prohibited actions. This verb is transitive and carries a strong negative connotation of betrayal within a peer group.

## Examples

- Don't snitch on your brother just because he broke the vase.
- The gang members were worried that one of their own might snitch on them to the police to get a shorter sentence.
- The corporate whistleblower was unfairly labeled a traitor by colleagues who accused him of snitching on the department's minor accounting errors.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He snitched his friend to the teacher." but "He snitched on his friend to the teacher." — the preposition 'on' is required to indicate the person being reported.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by the person being reported; the authority figure is rarely the direct object.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'report' (neutral/formal) or 'tattle' (used by children); 'snitch' implies a violation of a social code among peers.

---

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.