snitch

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian Unknown very informal

Meaning: informer / to inform on someone

告密者/告发某人
Soplón, chivato / chivarse de alguien.
密告者/誰かのことをチクる
밀고자 / 누군가를 고자질하다

Someone who tells authorities about others' wrongdoing. Less British than 'grass' but widely understood.

把别人的不当行为告诉当局的人。没有 'grass' 那么英式,但广泛理解。
Alguien que informa a las autoridades sobre las fechorías de otros. Menos británico que 'grass' pero ampliamente comprendido.
他人の悪事を当局に告げ口する人。'Grass' ほどイギリス的ではないが、広く理解されている。
다른 사람의 잘못을 당국에 알리는 사람. 'Grass'보다 영국적 색채는 덜하지만 널리 통용된다.

Examples

  1. Snitches get stitches.
    告密者没好下场。
    Los chivatos se llevan lo suyo.
    チクる奴は痛い目に遭う。
    고자질하는 놈은 혼쭐이 난다.
  2. He snitched to the teacher about the cheating.
    他向老师告发了作弊的事。
    Se chivó al profesor de que estaban copiando.
    彼はカンニングのことを先生にチクった。
    그는 커닝한 것을 선생님에게 고자질했다.
  3. I'm no snitch, but what they did was wrong.
    我不是告密者,但他们做的事是错的。
    No soy ningún chivato, pero lo que hicieron estaba mal.
    チクるつもりはないが、あいつらのやったことは間違っている。
    고자질할 생각은 없지만, 걔네가 한 짓은 잘못된 거야.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual, school, criminal

Tone: accusatory

✓ Do Say

  • Describe informing
    描述告密
    describir el acto de chivarse
    密告を表す
    고자질하는 것을 묘사할 때

✗ Don't Say

  • In formal contexts
    在正式场合不用
    En contextos formales
    フォーマルな場面では使わない
    공식적인 맥락에서

Origin & History

Originally British slang from the 18th century meaning nose, then informer. Now more associated with American usage.

Cultural Context

Era: timeless

Generation: all ages

Social background: all

More From This Topic

Nick ★★★★★ To steal; also a police station; also to arrest. Swipe ★★★★★ To steal, especially casually or opportunistically. Grass ★★★★★ An informer; to inform on someone to authorities. Snitch ★★★★★ An informer; to inform on someone. Rat ★★★★★ An informer; a traitor. In hot water ★★★★★ In trouble.
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