snitch
part of speech
verb (snitch, snitches, snitched, snitching); noun (a snitch, snitches) — informal
meaning for a pupil
1) To tell a teacher, parent or other adult that someone has done something wrong (informal and often unkind). tree →
2) A person who tells on others. tree →
3) To steal something small: "snitch a biscuit". tree →
sense in the lessons
In school life, children may call someone a "snitch" for telling on them. In safety lessons, pupils learn the difference: telling an adult to keep someone safe is not snitching, it is the right thing. In Harry Potter, the Golden Snitch is a small flying ball in Quidditch. Phrases: snitch on someone.
examples
- He snitched on his sister for eating the cake. tree →
- Nobody likes being called a snitch. tree →
- Telling a teacher about bullying is not snitching. tree →
- She snitched a cookie from the jar. tree →
- In Quidditch, the Seeker tries to catch the Snitch. tree →
- Do not snitch about small things, but always tell about danger. tree →
note
Informal word; in class say "tell on" or "report". Important: if someone is hurt, in danger or being bullied, telling a trusted adult is always right, even if someone calls it snitching. Telling just to get someone in trouble is different from telling to keep someone safe.
In the corpora
- Telling a trusted adult about bullying or danger is always the right thing, even if others call it grassing or snitching.
- Telling a grown-up about bullying is not snitching or grassing; it is keeping someone safe.
- Some children call any telling "snitching" to stop people reporting harm.
- Telling an adult when a friend is in danger is being a good friend, not a snitch.
- "yabeda" means telltale or snitch, someone who tells the teacher; kids hate being called it.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «snitch» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.