PhrasesHub

Grass up

    Definitions

      • betray someone
        To inform on or turn someone in to the authorities for their wrongdoings or illegal activities.

      • get someone in trouble
        To reveal or disclose someone's secrets or actions, usually with the intent of causing them harm or getting them in trouble.

      • stop or hinder someone's progress
        To hinder or obstruct someone's plans or progress by revealing information or causing them to face consequences for their actions.

    Examples of Grass up

    • John's best friend witnessed him committing a crime, but instead of staying quiet, he decided to grass him up to the police.

      'Grassing someone up' in this context means to inform the authorities about someone's wrongdoing. In other words, the friend became a snitch and turned John in.

    • The shopkeeper was suspicious of the man's behavior and feared he was trying to steal something. When the man left, she decided to grass him up to the security guards.

      'Grassing someone up' can also be used to imply exposing someone's suspicious or potentially criminal activities. In this example, the shopkeeper reported the man's behavior to the security guards as she believed he might be up to no good.

    • The CEO of the company was accused of embezzlement, but the company's accountant refused to grass him up as he didn't want to betray his friend's trust.

      'Grassing someone up' can also refer to someone's expectation that another person will inform on them. In this case, the CEO expected his friend and colleague the accountant to keep quiet about the embezzlement allegations.But the situation is the opposite here - the accountant's decision not to inform on him shows that he didn't want to betray the CEO's trust and inform on him.

    • The witness grassed up the suspect to the police.

      This means that the witness informed the police about the identity of the suspect involved in a crime. "Grass up" is used in this example as a colloquial and informal way to convey the idea of "report" or "inform against".

    • I heard that my friend grassed me up to their parents about our house party.

      In this example, "grassed up" means that my friend has told their parents about the house party that we threw without their permission. It's a slang term used to describe someone who informs on another person to a higher authority.

    • The criminal was grassed up by a reliable witness who saw him fleeing the scene of the crime.

      In this example, "grassed up" refers to the fact that the criminal has been identified and reported to the authorities thanks to the actions of a witness who saw and recognized him leaving the scene of the crime.

    • She hesitated to grass up the cheat in our exams, even though she knew it was wrong.

      In this example, "grass up" is used to describe someone who reports another person for cheating on an exam or test. This term is commonly used in a context related to school or academic dishonesty. It's a slang expression that suggests that the person is "grassing up" the cheater, which means that they are reporting them and potentially causing negative consequences for the person's academic standing or reputation.


    Conclusion

    Overall, the idiom "grass up" is used to describe the act of betraying or revealing information about someone, often with malicious intent. It can also refer to getting someone in trouble or hindering their progress. This phrase is commonly used in informal or colloquial language, and is often associated with criminal or illegal activities.

    Origin of "Grass up"

    The origin of the idiom "grass up" is believed to come from the phrase "to grass on someone," which dates back to the 19th century in Britain. This phrase was used to describe the act of informing or reporting someone to the authorities, particularly in regards to criminal activities. It is believed that the word "grass" in this context comes from the slang term for an informer or police informant.

    In the 20th century, the phrase "grass up" emerged as a shortened version of "grass on," and it became a popular phrase in British slang. It is often associated with the criminal underworld and is used to describe the betrayal or informing on someone within this context. However, it has also become a more general phrase used to describe any act of betrayal or revealing of secrets.

    Overall, the idiom "grass up" has a negative connotation and is often used to describe deceitful or malicious actions. Its origins in British slang and association with criminal activities have contributed to its modern usage and meaning.