The REAL genesis of "dropping dimes"?

[Carie]

I use urban dictionary all the time, but I didn't realize until today that you can submit a definition. There are a lot of creative people in here, we should come up with some great one's and consfuse the crap out of someone.

[boutons]

to throw a nice pass; in basketball terms, an assistto throw a nice pass; in basketball "terms, an assist"

... which is circular, but thanks anyway.

[Drachen]

I am just wondering because people say things all the time that they think has a certain meaning...but really it may come from something quite different that might end up being embarrassing for the person who says it...

...like "dog and pony show".

I didnt read the whole thread so someone may have already answered it, but it comes from when "urban informants" were "assisting" cops (NARCing) by calling them and giving them advanced information on crimes that were going down (drug deals, etc.) at the time. It became known as dropping dimes because these people could obviously not be seen going to and from the police station. They didnt want to use their own phones for fear of being bugged, so they would go use a payphone which, at the time that this became popular, cost a dime. They dropped a dime into the coin slot and assisted the cops in upholding the law.

[Kona]

who coined the phrase, "coined the phrase?"

[boutons]

http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorc.htm

http://www.businessballs.com/clichesorigins.htm