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# snitch

«snitch» in Mova's school dictionary: **To tell a teacher, parent or other adult that someone has…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#m1)

2) A person who tells on others. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#m2)

3) To steal something small: "snitch a biscuit". [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#m3)

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#x1)
- Nobody likes being called a snitch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#x2)
- Telling a teacher about bullying is not snitching. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#x3)
- She snitched a cookie from the jar. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#x4)
- In Quidditch, the Seeker tries to catch the Snitch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#x5)
- Do not snitch about small things, but always tell about danger. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/#x6)

### 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.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/369-getting-help-is-not-telling-tales/21/)
- [Telling a grown-up about bullying is not snitching or grassing; it is keeping someone safe.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/reflection/18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape/13/)
- [Some children call any telling "snitching" to stop people reporting harm.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/45-whistle-blowing-when-to-tell/8/)
- [Telling an adult when a friend is in danger is being a good friend, not a snitch.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/79-promises-memory-and-keeping-each-other-safe/12/)
- ["yabeda" means telltale or snitch, someone who tells the teacher; kids hate being called it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ukrainian-street/26-friendly-name-calling-and-real-insults/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «snitch» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/snitch/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.