tip
HighNeutral (used across all registers from informal to formal, depending on sense)
Definition
Meaning
The pointed or fine end of a slender object; a small sum of money given voluntarily for a service.
A piece of practical advice; a prediction about a future outcome, especially in racing; a small, discrete amount of information; to cause something to tilt or overturn.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has multiple distinct semantic clusters: 1) the end of something, 2) a gratuity, 3) advice or confidential information, 4) the act of tilting. These clusters are historically related but function as distinct lexemes in modern usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. In the 'gratuity' sense, 'tip' is universally dominant. Minor differences exist in compounds (e.g., 'rubbish tip' (UK) vs. 'dump' or 'landfill' (US)).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
All core meanings are high-frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
tip [sb] (for sth)tip [sth] (into/onto sth)tip [sb] off (about sth)tip [sb] to do sth[sth] tips overVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tip of the iceberg”
- “tip the scales”
- “on the tip of my tongue”
- “tip your hand”
- “tip your hat”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for gratuities in service industries, and for confidential market advice ('stock tip').
Academic
Used literally ('tip of a probe') or metaphorically ('tip of the iceberg').
Everyday
Very common for advice, gratuities, and the end of objects.
Technical
Specific uses in fields like physics (lever point), skiing (ski tip), or waste management (landfill tip).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- I'll give you a useful gardening tip.
- We took the old sofa to the tip.
- He felt the tip of the knife against his skin.
American English
- Here's a tip for removing stains.
- We loaded the trash for the dump. (Note: 'tip' less common for dump in US)
- Only the tip of the pencil was broken.
verb
British English
- Don't forget to tip the waiter.
- The lorry tipped its load onto the motorway.
- He was tipped to win the election.
American English
- Be sure to tip the server 20%.
- The canoe tipped over in the rapids.
- She tipped me off about the sale.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Be careful, the pencil has a sharp tip.
- Here is a tip: drink more water.
- We left a tip on the table after the meal.
- The tip of the mountain was covered in snow.
- The glass tipped over and spilled.
- The journalist was tipped off by an anonymous source.
- His performance in the debate tipped the scales in his favour.
- The problem we see is just the tip of the iceberg.
- The fund manager was accused of acting on an insider tip.
- Geological forces caused the continent to tip slightly over millennia.
- He carefully tipped the solution into the beaker.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a waiter balancing a tray on the TIP of his finger; if you TIP him well, he won't let the tray TIP over.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS MONEY (a 'hot tip' is valuable); CAUSE IS PHYSICAL MOVEMENT ('tip the balance'); A SMALL PART STANDS FOR THE WHOLE ('tip of the iceberg').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'tip' (gratuity) with 'fee' or 'tax'.
- Avoid translating 'tip' (advice) as 'совет' in contexts of confidential information; use 'наводка' or 'инсайд'.
- The verb 'to tip over' is not the same as 'to fall'; it implies a pivoting motion.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'tip' (gratuity) with 'bill' or 'charge'.
- Using 'tip' as a countable noun for advice ('a good tip') but incorrectly for information ('informations').
- Overusing phrasal verbs: 'tip off' is for warnings, not general telling.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'tip of the iceberg', what does 'tip' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In countries like the US and UK, it is a strong social expectation in restaurants, taxis, and for personal services. Not tipping is often considered rude unless service was exceptionally poor.
A 'tip' is often practical advice for success or inside information ('a cooking tip', 'a racing tip'). A 'hint' is a slight indication or clue to help solve a problem, often more subtle.
Yes: 'I tipped the delivery driver.' It is the standard verb for giving a gratuity.
It means to give someone confidential or advance warning, often about a police raid, a news story, or a secret event.