tip-off (n.)

大约在1200年左右，作为 Old English of（见 of）的强调形式出现，用于该词的副词用法。 "离开"的介词意义和"更远"的形容词意义直到17世纪才被固定下来，但一旦它们被固定，它们就留下了原始的 of，带有转移和削弱的词义。 "不工作"的意思来自1861年。

Off the cuff "即兴地，没有准备"（1938）源于从衬衫袖子上匆忙写下的笔记中说话的概念。关于服装， off the rack（adj.）"不定制，不按个人要求制作，现成的"是从1963年开始的，这是因为从服装店的货架上购买它的概念； off the record "不公开披露"来自1933年； off the wall "疯狂"是1968年，可能来自一个疯子"撞墙"的概念，或者是指壁球、手球等运动中的反弹击球。

“give a small present of money to,” was originally “to give, hand, pass,” used in thieves’ cant around 1600, and may have come from tip (v.3) “to tap.” The meaning “give a gratuity to” was first recorded in 1706. The noun with the same meaning first appeared in 1755. The noun “tip” meaning “a piece of confidential information” is from 1845, and the verb meaning “to give private information to” is from 1883.

The tale of the word's supposed origin as an acronym in 18th-century English taverns became popular in mid-18th century, but seems to be no older than Frederick W. Hackwood's 1909 book, "Inns, Ales and Drinking Customs of Old England." The book claims it stands for To insure promptitude (the anecdote is told from 1946 in the form to insure promptness ). A review of the book in The Athenaeum of Oct. 2, 1909, criticized this story and wrote, "We deprecate the careless repetition of popular etymologies such as the notion that 'tip' originated from an abbreviated inscription on a box placed on the sideboard in old coaching-inns, the full meaning of which was 'To Insure Promptitude.'” For more information, see here.