fink
part of speech
noun (a fink, finks); verb (fink, finks, finked, finking — fink on someone)
meaning for a pupil
1) (US, slang, old-fashioned) A fink is a person who tells on others to the police or people in charge; a snitch or tattletale. tree →
2) (US, slang) A fink is an unpleasant, untrustworthy person. tree →
3) (US, slang) To fink on someone is to tell on them. tree →
4) (old, US) A fink was also a strike-breaker who worked when others were on strike. tree →
sense in the lessons
Mostly found in old American films, comics and stories, where gangsters or kids call someone a fink. It is a mild insult. Everyday modern words are «snitch», «grass» (UK) or «tattletale» (US). Phrases: «fink on someone», «you rat fink».
examples
- «Don't be a fink and tell the teacher!» tree →
- He finked on his friends to the police. tree →
- In the old film, the gangster called him a rat fink. tree →
- Nobody trusted him after he was a fink. tree →
- «You little fink!» shouted her brother. tree →
- Telling an adult about bullying is right, not being a fink. tree →
note
Slang and old-fashioned. Remember: telling a trusted adult when someone is hurt or in danger is the right thing, not snitching.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «fink» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.