dime dropper

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A snitch or informer.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Although this story predated the Kunkle episode, something told me that with dime-droppers afoot, both men and women naturally become more cautious. After all, informality could be misinterpreted, and as the Navy puts it, discovery in these cases is a "career ender."

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “dime dropper” mean?

A snitch or informer.

Is “dime dropper” formal or informal?

dime dropper is generally slang.