tell
tell
/ˈtɛl/ verb , tells, told /ˈtoʊld/, tell·ing
1 [ + obj ]
1 a : to say or write (something) to (someone)
He told us the story.
Has she told you the good news, yet?
Please tell us your name and occupation.
She looked at the palm of my hand and told me my fortune.
I promise not to tell anyone your secret. = I promise not to tell your secret to anyone.
— often + about
You can tell me all about your trip at dinner.
— often + that
If you see her, tell her (that) we miss her.
People tell me (that) Paris is nice this time of year.
I keep telling myself (that) everything will be OK.
My husband tells/told me (that) you play golf.
— often + what, where, etc.
He told us what happened.
Can you tell them how to play the game while I get the cards?
I can't tell you how pleased we are [=we are very pleased] that you could join us.
◇ This sense of tell is often used informally to emphasize a statement.
You are wrong, I tell you.
I can tell you –it's not worth the hassle.
I'm telling you, I don't know anyone by that name.
I'll tell you one thing: she was awfully arrogant.
I'll tell you something/this: I would never have bought that car.
Let me tell you (something): he may be old, but he can still win baseball games.
To tell you the truth, I didn't really like the movie.
“The car turned out to be a lemon!” “What did I tell you?” [=you should have listened to me; you should have followed my advice]
1 b : to say (a word or words) to (someone)
I didn't get a chance to tell him goodbye. [=to say goodbye to him]
If you see her, tell her hello for me.
“I feel sick,” he told his mom.
2 a : to give information to (someone) by speaking or writing
[ + obj ] “What is his name?” “I don't know. He didn't tell me.”
Be sure to tell me when they get here. = When they get here, be sure to tell me (so).
“I know the answer.” “Don't tell me. [=don't say what the answer is] I want to guess.”
“Do you know where the library is?” “I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you.” [=I don't know]
[ no obj ] “Who is the letter from?” “I'm not telling.”
2 b : to let (someone) know a secret
[ + obj ] I promise not to tell anyone.
I can't tell you because it's a secret.
[ no obj ] Your secret is safe with me: I'll never tell.
3 [ + obj ] : to express (something) by speaking
He loves telling stories/jokes.
You shouldn't tell [=reveal] other people's secrets.
She got in trouble for telling a lie.
I'm telling the truth.
I didn't really like the movie, to tell the truth. [=to say what I really think]
Truth be told [=to say what the truth is], the food was pretty bad.
4 [ + obj ] : to give (someone) an instruction or command
Be quiet and do what I tell you. = Be quiet and do as you're told.
— usually followed by to + verb
The police officer told him to stop.
I was told to stay here.
I'll tell them to meet us there at 6 o'clock.
I told myself to pick up some milk on the way home, but I forgot to do it.
You can't tell me what to do.
5 : to inform others that someone has done something wrong or behaved badly — used especially by children
[ no obj ] If you do that, I'll tell.
[ + obj ] I'm telling Mom. see also
6 [ + obj ] : to give information to (someone or something) by doing a particular action or making a particular sound
When the dog scratches at the door, she is telling you that she wants to go outside.
The oven will beep to tell you when it is preheated.
7 [ + obj ] : to make (something) known to (someone)
The expressions on their faces told me everything I needed to know.
The evidence tells us that there were two robbers.
The signs will tell you what exit to take off the highway.
8 not used in progressive tenses [ + obj ] : to see or understand the differences between two people or things
I can definitely tell a/the difference between the two sauces.
They look exactly the same. How can you tell which is which?
I can't tell who is who with their uniforms on.
He is old enough to tell right from wrong. [=to know what things are good and what things are bad]
9 not used in progressive tenses : to see or know (something) with certainty
[ + obj ] It was easy to tell that the bill was counterfeit.
It's hard to tell if she's kidding or not.
— usually used after can or could
“He's lying.” “Really? How can you tell?”
I could tell (by/from the look on his face) that he was lying.
You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of car they drive.
No one can tell for sure whether it will happen.
Who can tell [=who can predict] what will happen next season?
You can never tell what type of mood he will be in.
You never can tell how he'll be feeling.
[ no obj ] You might win the raffle–you never can tell.
As far/near as I can tell, he is happy at his new job. [=he seems to me to be happy in his new job]
all told — see all, 2
don't tell me
informal
1
— used to show that you already know what someone is going to say especially because he or she often says such things
“I have a favor to ask of you.” “Don't tell me–I bet you need to borrow more money, don't you?”
2
— used to express surprise and disappointment
“Don't tell me the concert tickets were all sold out?!” “No, I bought the last two tickets.”
I/I'll tell you what (
informal
— used to introduce a suggestion or to emphasize a statement
(I'll) Tell you what–I'll let you borrow the car if you fill it up with gas.
I tell you what, I wouldn't pay that much for a pair of shoes.
I told you (so)
informal
— used to say to someone that you were right about something especially when that person disagreed with you
“You were right after all.” “See. I told you so!”
tell against [ phrasal verb ]
tell against (someone) Brit, formal : to be a disadvantage to (someone)
His unkempt appearance is bound to tell against him in court.
tell apart [ phrasal verb ]
tell (someone or something) apart : to see what the differences are between (people or things) : to identify (people or things that look similar to each other)
They look so much alike that I can barely/hardly/scarcely tell them apart.
It is hard telling the twins apart.
tell it like it is
US informal : to say what the facts are : to speak about unpleasant things in an honest way
I don't want to offend anyone; I'm just telling it like it is.
You can always count on John to tell it like it is.
tell me
— used in speech to introduce a question
Tell me, is there a subway nearby?
So tell me, what did you think of the movie?
tell me about it
informal
— used to say that you understand what someone is talking about because you have had the same or a similar experience
“Something is wrong with that computer.” “Yeah, tell me about it. I can never get it to work properly.”
tell of [ phrasal verb ]
formal + literary
1 tell of (something)
1 a : to be evidence of (something) : indicate
Her smile told of her good news.
His rough hands tell of a hard life.
1 b : to describe (something) : to make the details of (something) known
The article tells of her Arctic journey.
The explorer's journals tell of a vast unexplored wilderness.
2 tell (someone) of (something) : to talk to (someone) about (something)
He told us of his plans to move to the city.
tell off [ phrasal verb ]
tell (someone) off or tell off (someone) informal
1 US : to yell at or insult (someone who did or said something that made you angry)
He wished that he could tell his boss off.
— often + for
She told him off for spreading rumors about her.
2 Brit : to criticize (someone) in an angry way from a position of authority
— often + for
The teacher told the girl off for talking during class.
tell on [ phrasal verb ]
1 tell on (someone) informal : to tell someone in authority about the bad behavior or actions of (someone)
Please don't tell on me.
2 tell on (someone or something) not used in progressive tenses : to have a noticeable effect on (someone or something)
The stress began to tell on her face/health.
tell time (
there's no telling
— used to say that it is impossible to know something with certainty
There's no telling how long the strike will last.
you're telling me
informal
— used to say that you already know and completely agree with something that was just said
“This hot weather is brutal.” “You're telling me.”
