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Yes, it is a slang. I’m not much used to it here.

Mathi, Chambers Dictionary simply gives 'rat, to act as an informer' - no mention of 'slang' or 'informal' so I'd class it as a 'real' word!

Yes, rat is inform or informer. But grass as to inform is slang, I think.

Thanks, Mathi - I misunderstood! 'Grass' is definitely slang, I've seen it used as both a verb and a noun - and I like 'supergrass', defined as 'a police informer who has given information leading to the arrest of a great number of criminals'.

I see that supergrass is also a popular British slang. Thanks.

You're welcome, Mathi. I love words, so am happy to have any excuse to check things in my dictionaries!

I too like such rare words, but I am not much used to some of the British slangs, unless they are very popular. I often have to look them up in Chambers. Thanks again for these new words.

Hi everyone

I thought this would be easy - lots of the clues are, but despite sitting down with a glass of wine at 6.00pm I haven't finished.

I have a number unparsed, but could do with a few hints for the four I have left in the bottom left hand corner.

23ac One found in hanging basket, a rose sprayed with cheap stuff (8)

I have A?????A? I thought it would be a flower, and an anagram of a rose and something like tat, but cannot find it.

20d River flowing through Germany twice flooded (6)

I only have ?O???? I'm not sure what the definition is.

25ac What poacher might do to get American bird (8)

I have K?????E

A hint for one or two of the above might send me on my way

Personally, I had no trouble with grass = rat

Sorry, I left out the last blank on 25ac

Don't worry, I think I've got them all now though I can't parse 23ac or 17d.

Time for Montalbano now