tip

A useful suggestion or piece of information that helps you do something or solve a problem.

• Thanks for the useful tip.
• The book offers tips for new parents.
• An anonymous tip helped police find the stolen car.

How to use it: a tip on/about something (She gave me a tip on saving money.); a tip for doing something (Here's a tip for keeping bread fresh.)

Similar words: suggestion, pointer, hint

Common phrases: useful tip, travel tip, tip for someone, tip on something

The end of something, especially a small or pointed end.

• The pencil's tip broke.
• Her nose was red at the tip.
• The tips of his fingers felt cold.

How to use it: the tip of something (A bird landed on the tip of the branch.)

Similar words: point, end

Opposites: base

Common phrases: tip of something, pencil tip, wing tip, finger tip

Extra money given to someone who serves you, to thank them for their work.

• We left a small tip.
• The driver thanked us for the generous tip.
• Do the servers share their tips?

Similar words: gratuity

Common phrases: leave a tip, generous tip, tip for someone, cash tip

In the iceberg expression, the small visible part of a much larger hidden problem or situation.

• This mistake is just the tip of the iceberg.
• The missing money proved to be the tip of the iceberg.
• Are these delays only the tip of the iceberg?

How to use it: be the tip of the iceberg (These complaints are the tip of the iceberg.)

Common phrases: tip of the iceberg, just the tip

In the tongue expression, a word or name you almost remember but cannot say yet.

• The answer is on the tip of my tongue.
• His name was on the tip of her tongue all morning.
• Is the word on the tip of your tongue?

How to use it: be on the tip of someone's tongue (Her name is on the tip of my tongue.)

Common phrases: tip of your tongue, tip of someone's tongue

Private information from someone who knows a lot, especially about likely winners or ways to make money.

• She gave me a stock tip.
• His racing tips rarely produced a winner.
• They bought shares after receiving a tip from an insider.

How to use it: a tip on something (He gave me a tip on a horse in tomorrow's race.)

Similar words: inside information, lead

Common phrases: stock tip, racing tip, hot tip, tip on something

To lean to one side, or make something lean, sometimes until it falls.

• The chair began to tip.
• He tipped the box onto its side.
• Be careful, or the boat will tip over.

How to use it: tip over (The boat tipped over in the rough water.); tip something back/forward (She tipped her head back to look at the stars.)

Similar words: tilt, lean

Common phrases: tip over, tip something over, tip backwards, tip to one side

To give extra money to someone who serves you, as thanks for their work.

• Should we tip the waiter?
• She tipped generously after dinner.
• I usually tip the driver a few euros.

How to use it: tip someone an amount (We tipped the driver five dollars.)

Similar words: give a gratuity

Common phrases: tip someone, tip generously, tip the waiter