My brain thesaurus has failed me OcUK, please help!

[Sunbed]

I'm trying to find a verb for when you brief someone with the knowledge that the person you're briefing will be asked a specific query. The difference between this word and "brief" is that you only give the person anticipating the query the minimum amount of information necessary so they get the "gist" of it.

One of my colleagues uses the word "pre-empt" all the time. I know what he means, but I'm sure it's just the wrong word. For example (him in reply to someone on the phone) "OK fine, I will pre-empt that with Dave when he gets back to his desk and he'll call you back (i.e. so that he can anticipate/prepare for the query and respond efficiently with the correct information)."

Now, to pre-empt means to seize or anticipate so that you can do something inherently negative. I'm looking for the opposite, so you can brief someone so they can anticipate a query to make the latter conversation more efficient. It's not really the word "briefing" because that implies a lot more content.

Does anyone else say "pre-empt"? Out of context of the card game Bridge of course.

PS sorry for the boring thread but my Google-Fu and brain fails today. Here are pics stolen from other threads to make it more interesting:

 

[VaderDSL]

apprise?

 

[Belmit]

'Prep' or 'prime' seem to fit better.

 

[wonko]

I know you put some words in your post, but I can't seem to concentrate on them for some reason

I'm not sure a single word meaning "prepare someone to answer specific questions" exists... you might have to invent one.

 

[ToejaM]

Wouldnt the word actually be 'brief' seeing as thats essentially what he'd be doing?

OK fine, I will pre-empt that with Dave when he gets back to his desk and he'll call you back (i.e. so that he can anticipate/prepare for the query and respond efficiently with the correct information)."

I also think maybe the sentence you quoted, if thats what he actually says.. is just badly worded.

Better would be; I'll briefly tell Dave what to prepare for when he's back.

I guess of all these, tip off would be the closest to what you actually want? Though its not one word

Main Entry: brief
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: inform of facts
Synonyms: abridge, advise, apprise, edify, enlighten, epitomize, explain, fill in, give rundown, give the lowdown, inform, initiate, instruct, let in on, orient, prepare, prime, recapitulate, show the lay of the land, show the ropes, summarize, tip off, update

 

[Johno please?]

MMmmm boobs.

 

[ivrytwr3]

apprise or back-brief

 

[Sunbed]

Cheers for answerz yo. I will use some of these!