What does dobbing mean?
Dobbing is the informal act of informing an authority figure — a teacher, parent, boss, or official — about someone else's wrongdoing. The word derives from the verb 'dob', used chiefly in British, Australian, and New Zealand English, and typically appears in the phrases 'dobbing on' or 'dobbing in'. Its connotation is usually unfavourable: in schoolyards and close-knit communities, dobbing is associated with disloyalty and betrayal, and those who dob are often viewed with contempt. However, the term can carry a neutral or even positive tone when the behaviour being reported is serious, such as bullying or dangerous driving, where 'dobbing in a dangerous driver' may be framed as civic responsibility rather than treachery. Because it is distinctly colloquial, dobbing rarely appears in formal writing, where words like 'reporting' or 'disclosing' are preferred. Its strong regional flavour makes it a useful marker of British and Australasian register in dialogue and informal prose.
verb (present participle and gerund)The act of informing someone in authority about another person's wrongdoing or misbehaviour; the present participle of 'dob' (chiefly British and Australian informal).
- Informing an authority figure about another person's wrongdoing (informal, chiefly British and Australian).
"He got detention for dobbing on his classmates."
"She was accused of dobbing on her teammates after the coach found out about the prank."
"In some workplaces, dobbing is seen as loyalty to the company; in others, it's plain treachery."
In Australia, dobbing is practically a national moral dilemma — schoolyards even have anti-dobbing culture, where telling the teacher can earn you more scorn than the original crime.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dobbing
The verb 'dob', from which dobbing derives, emerged as Australian slang in the nineteenth century, though its precise origins remain uncertain; it may be connected to British dialect uses of 'dob' meaning to hand over or place something. By the twentieth century, 'dob in' had become established across Australia, New Zealand, and Britain in the sense of informing on someone. Related forms include the noun 'dobber', meaning an informer.
Related word forms
How dobbing is actually used
Strongly colloquial and informal; 'dobbing in' is the common phrasing in Australia and New Zealand, while 'dobbing on' is typical in Britain. It often carries a negative connotation of betrayal, especially among children, though it can be neutral when reporting serious misconduct.
Easily confused with dobbing
'Dabbing' means pressing lightly or performing a dance move/gesture, while 'dobbing' means informing on someone's wrongdoing.