had tipped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had tipped" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action of tipping occurred before another past action or time. Example: "By the time the waiter arrived, I had tipped him generously for his excellent service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Connolly had tipped him off.

The New Yorker

Display cases had tipped and shattered.

The New York Times

The intelligence people, naturally, had tipped off the press.

Independent

But by then, the Yankees had tipped their hand.

The New York Times - Sports

Allied troops suspected Pakistani sympathizers had tipped off the insurgents.

The New York Times

A backhoe had tipped over at the construction site.

The Guardian - Travel

Someone had tipped off the Hisbah – the religious police.

The Guardian

By last season, their careers had tipped toward semi-obscurity.

The New York Times

It surprised critics who had tipped Netflix's House of Cards.

The Guardian - Film

And now it had tipped in the other direction.

The New York Times

He wondered who had tipped the N.C.A.A. about Barkley.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had tipped" to mean giving a warning, ensure the context makes it clear who received the tip and what the tip was about.

Common error

Avoid using "had tipped" when you simply mean 'informed' or 'told'. "Had tipped" often carries a connotation of secrecy or a subtle hint.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "had tipped" is as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action of tipping (either physically or metaphorically) that was completed before another action in the past. Ludwig AI provides several examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had tipped" is a versatile verb phrase primarily used in the past perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very common, especially within news and media contexts. The phrase denotes an action of tipping, either physically or metaphorically implying the act of providing a subtle warning or piece of information. While grammatically sound, be mindful of its connotation of secrecy or indirectness and select alternatives like "had informed" or "had alerted" when a more direct term is suitable. The high expert rating and the frequency of authoritative sources demonstrate its reliable usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had informed

Focuses on the act of conveying information, replacing the implication of a secret or subtle warning.

had revealed

Highlights the uncovering of information, but lacks the nuance of discreetly leaking it.

had alerted

Emphasizes a warning about potential danger or risk, differing from the broader sense of "had tipped".

had disclosed

Implies making information known, with a formal connotation that "had tipped" often lacks.

had notified

Implies a formal communication, whereas "had tipped" can be informal or subtle.

had influenced

Highlights the act of swaying an outcome, moving away from the specific context of providing a hint.

had swayed

Suggests a gentle or persuasive influence, unlike the potentially forceful action of "had tipped".

had overturned

Focuses on the physical act of something being turned over, removing the informational component.

had toppled

Implies a forceful loss of balance, differing from the subtle sense of influence or information.

had capsized

Specifically means to overturn in water, a much narrower meaning than "had tipped".

FAQs

How is "had tipped" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had tipped" is used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action of tipping occurred before another past action or time. For example, "The waiter "had tipped" the table before I could react."

What can I say instead of "had tipped"?

You can use alternatives like "had informed", "had alerted", or "had notified" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when something "had tipped" over?

When something "had tipped" over, it means it lost its balance and fell or tilted to one side. This usage is different from the informational meaning of ""had tipped" off".

Is "had tipped off" a common expression?

Yes, "had tipped off" is a common expression, especially in news and media, to describe someone secretly giving information or a warning.