Factsheet

• Word Type: Verb
• Pronunciation:
  • British English: /draɪ snɪtʃ/
  • U.S. English: /draɪ snɪtʃ/
  • Rhyming Words: itch, ditch, switch
• Field: Slang, African American Vernacular English (AAVE)
• First Known Use: 1984

Etymology

The term dry snitch originated in U.S. prison slang in the 1980s.

• Dry: Implies subtlety or lack of directness.
• Snitch: A slang term for an informant or someone who “tells on” others.

Together, dry snitch refers to the act of indirectly or covertly informing on someone, often in a way that lacks explicit speech but still conveys incriminating information.

Meaning & Use

Definition

1. To Inform Indirectly: To covertly or inadvertently reveal information about someone to an authority figure, often without directly accusing them.
2. To Expose Through Actions: To unintentionally incriminate oneself or others by one’s actions, words, or behavior.

Key Characteristics

• Often involves subtle gestures, body language, or offhand remarks.
• Can occur intentionally or unintentionally.

Quotations in Context

1. 1984:
   “The only prisoner excluded from all social groups is the rat or snitch ‘informer.’ Related terms are scurvy ‘backstabber’ and dry snitch ‘inform without speaking, by making a sign with the eye.’”
   — SECOL Review
2. 2008:
   “These guys… had one of their bosses appearing in music videos with stacks of money on a table, and billboards announcing their presence. It’s like they were dry snitching on themselves.”
   — Supreme Understanding, How to Hustle & Win
3. 2010:
   “I kinda dry snitched on a colleague by copying his boss on an email, but I’ve tried for 2 weeks to get this done w/ him to no avail.”
   — @EddieBaseball on Twitter
4. 2017:
   “The interview trended online… King’s not too happy… Kenya told me he’s heated that I dry snitched.”
   — A. Thomas, The Hate U Give

Pronunciation

• Phonetic: /draɪ snɪtʃ/
• Rhyming Words: itch, ditch, switch

The stress is placed evenly across both words: DRY SNITCH.

Examples in Everyday Use

1. Intentional Exposure:
   • “She dry snitched on her friend by casually mentioning the party to the teacher.”
2. Unintentional Self-Incrimination:
   • “Posting a picture with stolen goods on social media is just dry snitching on yourself.”
3. Office Context:
   • “He dry snitched on his coworker by forwarding the email thread to their manager.”
4. Cultural Reference:
   • “The rapper’s lyrics were so specific, it sounded like dry snitching about their crew.”

Synonyms

• Indirectly inform
• Subtle tattling
• Unintentional exposure
• Covert telling
• Inadvertent incrimination

Cultural and Social Significance

• Prison Slang Roots: Originating in prisons, dry snitching carries a connotation of betrayal without explicit accusation.
• Modern Usage: Now commonly used in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and broader slang contexts, referring to any indirect or inadvertent revealing of sensitive information.
• Pop Culture: Frequently referenced in music, movies, and social media to describe behavior that compromises loyalty or discretion.

Conclusion

Dry snitch is a vivid slang term that captures the act of indirectly exposing information, whether intentional or not. Originating in prison culture, it has expanded into everyday language, reflecting a nuanced form of communication and self-awareness. Its enduring use in modern vernacular underscores the complexities of trust and discretion in interpersonal and societal interactions.

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