Rat on
verb
To tell someone in authority about something wrong or illegal that someone else has done, usually in order to get them in trouble.
He threatened to rat on me if I didn't give him half of my lunch every day.
Often appears as...
- rat on someone
- rat on him
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To tell someone in authority about something wrong or illegal that someone else has done, usually in order to get them in trouble.
He threatened to rat on me if I didn't give him half of my lunch every day.
Often appears as...
- rat on someone
- rat on him
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'rat on' suggests disapproval of the informant, as it's often seen as a betrayal.
Even with the evidence piling up, she refused to rat on her friend.
Pro Tip 2/3Slang Usage
It's casual slang, not suitable in formal contexts like business meetings or academic writing.
I couldn't believe he would actually rat on me to the teacher.
Pro Tip 3/3Criminal Context
Often used in the context of crime, where someone reports illegal activities to the authorities.
After being caught, the thief decided to rat on his accomplices.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'rat on' suggests disapproval of the informant, as it's often seen as a betrayal.
Even with the evidence piling up, she refused to rat on her friend.
Pro Tip 2/3Slang Usage
It's casual slang, not suitable in formal contexts like business meetings or academic writing.
I couldn't believe he would actually rat on me to the teacher.
Pro Tip 3/3Criminal Context
Often used in the context of crime, where someone reports illegal activities to the authorities.
After being caught, the thief decided to rat on his accomplices.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'rat on' suggests disapproval of the informant, as it's often seen as a betrayal.
Even with the evidence piling up, she refused to rat on her friend.
Pro Tip 2/3Slang Usage
It's casual slang, not suitable in formal contexts like business meetings or academic writing.
I couldn't believe he would actually rat on me to the teacher.
Pro Tip 3/3Criminal Context
Often used in the context of crime, where someone reports illegal activities to the authorities.
After being caught, the thief decided to rat on his accomplices.
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