snitch

n. someone who tells a person in charge (like a teacher or the police) that another person has done something wrong.

n. an informer who betrays a group's confidence by reporting misconduct to authorities.

“Nobody wanted to talk to him because they thought he was a snitch for the principal.”

“The gang suspected there was a snitch in their ranks after the police arrived exactly when the shipment was being moved.”

Slang · Informal

n. in the Harry Potter books, a small gold ball with wings that players try to catch.

n. the small, winged golden ball used in the fictional sport of Quidditch, the capture of which usually ends the match.

“The seeker flew high above the stadium, searching for a flash of the Golden Snitch.”

“In the final minutes of the game, the seeker dived sharply toward the grass, having finally spotted the elusive Golden Snitch.”

v. to tell an authority figure about someone's secret or bad behavior.

v. to act as an informer; to report the misdeeds of others to an authority figure, often viewed as a betrayal of trust.

“He promised not to snitch on his brother for breaking the window.”

“Despite the pressure from investigators, the witness refused to snitch on his associates, citing a personal code of silence.”

Slang · Informal

v. to steal something small quickly and quietly.

v. to pilfer or steal something, typically of low value, in a quick or surreptitious manner.

“The child tried to snitch a cookie from the jar while his mother wasn't looking.”

“He managed to snitch a few loose cigarettes from the counter while the shopkeeper was distracted by another customer.”

Slang · Archaic