fink
fink Lexical Profile
fink Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American An informer who betrays confidential information or accomplices to the authorities, or a contemptible, untrustworthy person in general (informal).
"The gang members suspected that a fink had tipped off the police about the warehouse location."
North American A strikebreaker hired to replace union workers during a labor dispute, or a detective employed by management to spy on union activities (informal).
"Union picketers shouted at the finks crossing the line to enter the factory."
• verb
North American To inform on someone or report their wrongdoing to the authorities (informal, usually followed by 'on').
"He promised he would never fink on his friends to the school principal."
North American To fail to keep a promise or withdraw from a commitment or responsibility at the last moment (informal, usually followed by 'out').
"He agreed to help us move the furniture, but he finked out at the last minute."
• Rhymes for fink
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in late 19th-century American underworld and labor slang, likely borrowed from German 'Fink' (literally 'finch'), which was used in German student slang as a derogatory term for an outsider, non-member, or untrustworthy person.