Definition of a drop a dime

expression

• Long before cell phones, the best way to inform the authorities of a situation without bringing attention to oneself was to use a pay phone, which required the user to "drop a dime" into the slot. As previously mentioned above, today it is frequently misused by sports analysts to refer to a good pass, most commonly in football or basketball. Because the phrase sounds vaguely familiar, once a few ex-jocks started repeating it, the mistaken definition became the norm, to the point where I heard non-jock ESPN writer Bill Barnwell chew out a twitter follower for pointing out the mistake.

  Billy dropped a dime on Sally when he saw her take a library book without checking it out. He slipped the librarian a note when she was away from her desk.

  Last edited on Jun 13 2019. Submitted by Anonymous on Jun 13 2019.

noun

• I just heard a color commentator covering a college football game say of the Nebraska quarterback, who had just thrown a long touchdown pass, that he "dropped a dime on his receiver." A bit Inigo Montoya, I think.

  Last edited on Oct 25 2014. Submitted by Anonymous on Oct 25 2014.

verb

• to inform the authorities (e.g. police) that someone was involved in a crime.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
  
  Citation from "Dog and Pony", Terriers (TV, 2010), Season 1 Episode 2 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

  • See more words with the same meaning: to betray.

  Last edited on Jan 20 2012. Submitted by Joshua S. from Newport, KY 41071, USA on Feb 01 2003.

• to give someone a heads up.

  I am going to drop you a dime about this restaurant.

  This definition is questionable and is pending deletion. It will be saved from deletion if legitimate citations are found.

  Last edited on Jan 20 2012. Submitted by Joshua S. from Newport, KY 41071, USA on Feb 01 2003.