tell

tell

W1S1 [tel] v past tense and past participle told [təuld US tould]

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1¦(communicate something)¦

2¦(show something)¦

3¦(what somebody should do)¦

4¦(know)¦

5¦(recognize difference)¦

6 tell yourself something

7¦(warn)¦

8¦(tell somebody about bad behaviour)¦

9 tell tales

10 all told

11¦(affect)¦

12 tell the time

13 I/I'll tell you what

14 to tell (you) the truth

15 I can tell you/I'm telling you

16 tell me

17 I told you so

18 I'll tell you something/one thing/another thing

19 you can tell him from me

20 I couldn't tell you

21 I can't tell you

22 don't tell me

23 somebody tells me (that)

24 you're telling me

25 tell me about it

26 you never can tell/you can never tell

27 there's no telling what/how etc

28 that would be telling

29 tell somebody where to go/where to get off

30 tell it like it is

31 I'm not telling (you)

32 tell me another (one)

Phrasal verbs

　tell against somebody

　tell somebody/something apart

　tell of somebody/something

　tell somebody<=>off

　tell on somebody

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[: Old English; Origin: tellan]

1.) ¦(COMMUNICATE SOMETHING)¦ [T]

if someone tells you something, they communicate information, a story, their feelings etc to you

tell sb (that)

▪ I wish someone had told me the meeting was canceled.

▪ The Chief of Police told reporters that two people were killed in the blast.

tell sb what/how/where/who etc

▪ Jack had to go, but he didn't tell me why.

▪ I think you'd better tell me exactly what's been going on around here.

tell sb about sth

▪ No one had told them about the drug's side effects.

▪ I'll tell you all about it when I get back.

tell sb sth

▪ Tell me your phone number again.

tell (sb) a story/joke/secret/lie

▪ She told us some funny stories about her sister.

▪ Sheppard was telling the truth .

tell sb straight

(=tell someone the truth, even though it might upset them)

▪ Tell me straight, Adam. Just answer yes or no.

see usage note ↑say¹

2.) ¦(SHOW SOMETHING)¦ [T]

to give information in ways other than talking

tell sb how/what/where/who etc

▪ The light tells you when the machine is ready.

▪ The bear's sense of smell tells it where prey is hiding.

tell sb about sth

▪ What do these fossils tell us about climate change?

3.) ¦(WHAT SOMEBODY SHOULD DO)¦ [T]

to say that someone must do something

tell sb (not) to do sth

▪ The teacher told the children to sit down quietly.

▪ I thought I told you not to touch anything!

tell sb (that)

▪ Bernice was told she had to work late this evening.

tell sb what/how etc

▪ Stop trying to tell me what to do all the time.

▪ Do as you are told (=obey me) and don't ask questions.

4.) ¦(KNOW)¦ [I,T not in progressive]

to know something or be able to recognize something because of certain signs that show this

can/can't tell

▪ She might have been lying. Benjy couldn't tell.

tell (that)

▪ The moment Kramer walked in, I could tell that things were not going well.

tell (sth) a mile off

(=know easily)

▪ You could tell a mile off that he was lying.

tell when/how/whether/if etc

▪ It's hard to tell how long the job will take.

tell sth by sth/from sth

▪ I could tell from his tone of voice that Ken was disappointed.

5.) ¦(RECOGNIZE DIFFERENCE)¦ [T not in progressive]

to be able to see how one person or thing is different from another

tell sth from sth

▪ How can you tell a fake Vuitton handbag from the real thing?

▪ Can you tell the difference between sparkling wine and champagne?

→tell apart

6.) tell yourself sth

to persuade yourself that something is true

▪ I keep telling myself there is nothing I could have done to save him.

7.) ¦(WARN)¦ [T usually in past tense]

to warn someone that something bad might happen

tell sb (that)

▪ I told you it was a waste of time talking to him.

tell sb (not) to do sth

▪ My mother told me not to trust Robert.

8.) ¦(TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT BAD BEHAVIOUR)¦ [i]informal

to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done - used especially by children

= ↑tell on somebody

▪ If you hit me, I'll tell.

→↑kiss-and-tell

9.) tell tales

BrE to say something that is not true about someone else, in order to cause trouble for them - used especially about children

▪ an unpopular boy, who was always telling tales on the other children

→↑telltale²

10.) all told

altogether, when everyone or everything has been counted

▪ There must have been eight cars in the accident, all told.

11.) ¦(AFFECT)¦ [I not in progressive]

to have an effect on someone, especially a harmful one

tell on sb

▪ These late nights are really beginning to tell on him.

12.) tell the time

BrE tell time AmE

to be able to know what time it is by looking at a clock

13.) spoken I/I'll tell you what also tell you what

a) used when you are suggesting or offering something

▪ I tell you what - let's have a picnic in the park.

b) AmE used in order to emphasize what you are really saying

▪ I tell you what, I'm not looking forward to standing up in court tomorrow.

14.) spoken to tell (you) the truth

used to emphasize that you are being very honest

▪ I don't really want to go out, to tell the truth.

15.) spoken I can tell you/I'm telling you

used to emphasize that what you are saying is true even though it may be difficult to believe

▪ I'm telling you, Sheila, I've never seen anything like it in my life.

16.) spoken tell me

used before asking a question

▪ Tell me, do you think this dress goes with these shoes?

▪ So tell me, how was it in Argentina?

17.) spoken I told you so

used when you have warned someone about a possible danger that has now happened and they have ignored your warning

▪ I suppose you've come to say 'I told you so.'

18.) spoken I'll tell you sth/one thing/another thing also let me tell you sth/one thing/another thing

used to emphasize what you are saying

▪ I'll tell you one thing - you'll never get me to vote for him.

▪ Let me tell you something - if I catch you kids smoking again, you'll be grounded for a month at least.

19.) spoken you can tell him from me

used to ask someone to tell another person something, when you are annoyed or determined

▪ Well, you can tell him from me that I'm going to make a complaint.

20.) spoken I couldn't tell you

used to tell someone that you do not know the answer to their question

▪ 'How much would a rail ticket cost?' ' I couldn't tell you; I always drive.'

21.) spoken I can't tell you

a) used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret

▪ 'Where are you taking me?' 'I can't tell you; it would spoil the surprise.'

b) used to say that you cannot express your feelings or describe something properly

I can't tell you how/why/what etc

▪ I can't tell you how worried I've been.

22.) spoken don't tell me

used to interrupt someone because you know what they are going to say or because you want to guess - used especially when you are annoyed

▪ 'I'm sorry I'm late but ...' 'Don't tell me - the car broke down again?'

23.) spoken sb tells me (that)

used to say what someone has told you

▪ Mike tells me you've got a new job.

24.) spoken you're telling me

used to emphasize that you already know and agree with something that someone has just said

▪ 'He's such a pain to live with.' 'You're telling me!'

25.) spoken tell me about it

used to say that you already know how bad something is, especially because you have experienced it yourself

▪ 'I've been so tired lately.' 'Yeah, tell me about it!'

26.) spoken you never can tell/you can never tell

used to say that you cannot be certain about what will happen in the future

▪ The boy might turn out to be a genius. You never can tell.

27.) spoken there's no telling what/how etc

used to say that it is impossible to know what has happened or what will happen next

▪ There's no telling what she'll try next.

28.) spoken that would be telling

used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret

29.) spoken tell sb where to go/where to get off

used to tell someone angrily that what they have said is insulting or unfair

▪ 'Andy started criticizing the way I was dressed.' 'I hope you told him where to get off!'

30.) spoken tell it like it is

AmE to say exactly what you think or what is true, without hiding anything that might upset or offend people

▪ Don always tells it like it is.

31.) spoken I'm not telling (you)

used to say that you refuse to tell someone something

▪ 'Mum, what are you getting me for my birthday?' 'I'm not telling you - you'll have to wait and see.'

32.) spoken tell me another (one)

used when you do not believe what someone has told you

tell against [tell against sb] phr v

to make someone less likely to succeed in achieving or winning something

▪ I badly wanted the job, but knew that my age would probably tell against me.

tell apart [tell sb/sth apart] phr v

if you can tell two people or things apart, you can see the difference between them, so that you do not confuse them

= ↑distinguish

▪ It's almost impossible to tell the twins apart.

tell of / [tell of sb/sth] phr v

to describe an event or person

▪ The poem tells of the deeds of a famous warrior.

tell off [tell sb<=>off] phr v

if someone in authority tells you off, they speak to you angrily about something wrong that you have done

be/get told off

▪ Shelley was one of those kids who was always getting told off at school.

tell sb off for doing sth

▪ My dad told me off for swearing.

tell on [tell on sb] phr vto tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done - used especially by children

▪ Please don't tell on me - my parents will kill me if they find out!