What it means
Someone who rats you out, especially to an authority figure like a teacher, manager, or the cops. Also used as a verb, to snitch. In UK chat it sits alongside grass and carries the same vibe, you’re not being helpful, you’re selling people out for favour or to save your own skin. Usually said with proper contempt.
Usage examples
"Who snitched to the boss about our two-hour lunch at Wetherspoons? Bet it was Darren, the office grass who logs off at five on the dot."
"Someone snitched on the office Christmas party photos, the head of HR opened her email and found three pictures of the lift covered in glitter, names noted by Monday."
"My kid brother used to snitch to mum every time I came home late, kept a little notebook with timings, until I bribed him with a pound and the snitching slowed down a bit."
"Don't invite Kyle if you're bunking off, that little snitch will have the teacher clocking the register before you've hit the corner shop."
"He swore blind he was loyal, then snitched to the manager the second refunds went missing. Proper snake behaviour."
Where it comes from
In English, snitch shows up by the late 1700s. Early on it could mean nose, then it drifted toward someone who pokes into other people’s business and gives them up. It stuck hard in underworld slang for informer, then spread wider through US street talk, rap, and anti-snitching culture.
Other ways to say it
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