Are you looking for a way to describe a snitch? You could say that they "dropped a dime". Keep reading to learn more about the meaning and origin of the idiom "to drop a dime", and find out how you can use the saying in a sentence!
Meaning
The American idiom "to drop a dime" means to snitch, inform an authority figure, or betray someone. It always has a negative meaning in this context.
The expression comes from the fact that the price of using a payphone used to be 10 cents — a dime.
"Dropping a dime" can alternatively refer simply to making a phone call. This use is less frequent.
Example Usage
Would you like to use the phrase "to drop a dime" in a sentence? These examples illustrate how you can do that:
- "Pete dropped a dime on us as soon as the cops started interrogating him. He just couldn't stand the thought of going to jail."
- "Don't worry, I didn't tell my sister about the prank we're planning. She'd only drop a dime on us!"
- "Avoid that kid like the plague. He's a dime-dropper." (This variation changes the idiom "to drop a dime" into a noun.)
Origin
The idiom "to drop a dime on someone", which is primarily used in the United States, originally referred to the action of calling the police about a crime.
Over time, "dropping a dime on someone" came to refer to any kind of snitching — telling on parents, teachers, or employers can be considered "dropping a dime" too.
"Dropping a dime" comes from the fact that it used to cost 10 cents (a dime) to make local calls from a payphone. The caller would literally "drop a time" into the designated slot to place a call.
It is unclear precisely when the phrase "to drop a dime" first became popular, but the expression was definitely in use in the 1960s.
Interestingly, the word "dime", meaning 10 cents, can be traced back to the old French word "disme", which gradually evolved into "dime". A dime is a tenth in French, which is how the word came to be used to describe 10 cent coins.
The idiom has become less popular over time. The last Urban Dictionary entries defining dropping a dime as snitching were made in 2018. Newer entries show that the phrase has gained several new meanings:
- "To make a nice pass" (in basketball)
- "To fund something"
Phrases Similar to Drop a Dime
If you don't want to use the phrase "drop a dime", you can simply call someone a snitch. You could also use these slang terms and idioms:
- A rat is a snitch — if you want to describe the action, talk about "ratting someone out".
- A narc.
- Telling on someone — mainly used by children.
- Snitches get stitches — this phrase is used to warn people against "dropping a dime".
Phrases Opposite to Drop a Dime
The opposite of dropping a dime, meaning informing on someone, would be to keep a secret or to keep silent. You can use the following phrases to tell someone to keep quiet:
- Keep mum
- Keep your lips sealed
- Keep it under wraps
- Keep your mouth shut
What Is the Correct Saying?
The correct saying is "to drop a dime on someone". This American idiom means "to snitch" or "to inform on someone".
Ways People May Say Drop a Dime Incorrectly
The idiom "to drop a dime" isn't complete with the addition "on someone". You can say that someone dropped a dime on you, or on someone else. If you want to call someone a snitch, it would be incorrect to simply say that they "dropped a dime".
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Drop a Dime
You can say that a snitch dropped a dime or is planning to drop a dime on someone. This idiom no longer just refers to police informants.
If you're planning to use the phrase "to drop a dime", be aware that the smartphone era has made "dropping a dime" redundant. Younger people are unlikely to understand the expression.