tell
tell — verb
1. to pass along facts or directions to someone through spoken words or written mes
to pass along facts or directions to someone through spoken words or written messages — for example, letting a friend know a shop is closed, or instructing a child to put on their shoes.
Christopher told his mum that the bus was late this morning.
tell + object + that-clause
The teacher told the children to open their books to page ten.
tell + object + to-infinitive
Hana told us about the grilled corn and earrings she bought at the night market.
"I will call you when I arrive," Mizuki told her father.
tell + object + quoted speech
Can you please tell me the way to the nearest station?
- tell someone something
- tell someone that...
- tell someone about...
- tell someone to...
- listen
the opposite action — receiving rather than giving information
Grammar Patterns
tell + object + that-clause
tell + object + to-infinitive
tell + object + about + noun phrase
tell + object + quoted speech
Usage Note
In this sense, 'tell' always needs the person you are speaking to as its first object. You cannot say 'tell something' without mentioning who is being told.
Common Mistakes
2. to say something that you know is not true, especially in order to avoid trouble
to say something that you know is not true, especially in order to avoid trouble or to make someone believe something false.
Camila told her parents a lie about finishing her homework.
tell + a lie (fixed collocation)
Jude told his teacher a dog had chewed his homework on the way to school.
Mayumi knew her classmate was telling a lie when she claimed to be only twenty years old.
Little children sometimes tell lies without meaning to hurt anyone.
collocation: tell lies
- tell a lie
- tell lies
- tell someone a lie
- tell the truth
the direct opposite — saying what is true
Grammar Patterns
tell + a lie
tell + object + that-clause (untrue)
tell + lies
Usage Note
Commonly used with the fixed object 'a lie' or 'lies'. Unlike 'lie' (the verb), 'tell a lie' always focuses on the act of speaking falsely rather than on the state of being dishonest.
Common Mistakes
3. to reveal the complete truth about something to someone, especially after keepin
to reveal the complete truth about something to someone, especially after keeping it hidden or not being fully open.
Reuben told his wife the truth about losing his wallet at work.
tell + object + the truth
After two hours of questioning, the man told the police everything.
tell + object + everything (full disclosure)
Aylin decided to tell the whole story to her best friend.
The witness promised to tell the court exactly what she had seen.
- tell the truth
- tell everything
- tell the whole story
- confess
stronger — usually to a crime or serious wrongdoing
- come clean
informal, means to finally admit everything
Grammar Patterns
tell + object + the truth
tell + object + everything
tell + object + the whole story
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'the truth', 'everything', or 'the whole story' as the direct object. The listener is often someone in authority — a parent, a police officer, or a judge.
Common Mistakes
4. When a child reports another child's wrongdoing to an adult like a parent or tea
When a child reports another child's wrongdoing to an adult like a parent or teacher, hoping the other child will be scolded or punished.
Sana ran to tell the teacher a boy threw sand on the playground at recess.
Nellie ran to tell on her brother for taking an extra biscuit.
phrasal: tell on + person
The babysitter told the children to stop telling tales on each other.
"You are always telling tales!" the little boy shouted at his sister.
collocation: telling tales
- tell on someone
- tell tales
- stop telling tales
- cover up
to hide someone's bad behaviour instead of reporting it
Grammar Patterns
tell tales
tell on + person
Usage Note
This sense is most common in school and family settings. The phrasal verb 'tell on' has the same meaning: 'tell on someone' means to report their bad behaviour.
Common Mistakes
5. to say what you really think or feel, without hiding your opinion or choosing yo
to say what you really think or feel, without hiding your opinion or choosing your words to avoid upsetting someone.
Romi told her boss honestly that the plan needed more work.
tell + object + honestly (manner adverb)
Kevin told his friend directly that he did not agree with him.
Ryan told the committee exactly what he thought of the proposal.
The teenager told his parents how he really felt about moving schools.
tell + object + how/what clause
- tell someone honestly
- tell someone directly
- tell someone what/how
- speak one's mind
idiom meaning to express opinions directly and without fear
- be blunt
implies being so direct that it may seem rude
- hold back
to avoid saying what you really think
Grammar Patterns
tell + someone + what/how + clause
tell + possessive + thoughts/feelings
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3 (CONFESS): sense 3 is about revealing hidden facts, while sense 5 is about expressing an honest opinion or feeling directly, without softening it.
Common Mistakes
6. used before a statement to show that you are about to say something honest, ofte
used before a statement to show that you are about to say something honest, often a personal opinion or an admission that is a little uncomfortable or surprising.
To be honest, Ilan did not really enjoy the concert last night.
discourse marker: To be honest, + clause
To tell you the truth, Ritu found the movie quite boring.
discourse marker: To tell you the truth, + clause
I must be honest — I forgot to buy milk on my way home today.
Truth be told, Soraya had never liked the dress her aunt gave her.
- to be honest
- to tell you the truth
- truth be told
Grammar Patterns
To be honest, + clause
To tell you the truth, + clause
I must be honest, + clause
Usage Note
This sense is a discourse marker — it does not describe the act of telling, but rather signals the speaker's attitude. It is almost always used in spoken or informal written English, usually at the start of a sentence.
Common Mistakes
7. to know with certainty that something is true or has a particular quality, based
to know with certainty that something is true or has a particular quality, based on what you see, hear, or notice
Nadia could tell that someone had been in her room by the open drawer.
tell + (that)-clause for certainty
Niran could not tell if the cake was baked just by looking at the top.
tell + if/whether clause
From his grin, Quinn could tell the interview had gone well.
tell + (that)-clause without 'that'
How can you tell whether a melon is ripe just by looking at the skin?
The security guard could tell from the tyre marks what kind of car had left the scene.
tell + from + noun phrase + clause
- easily tell
- hard to tell
- impossible to tell
- tell from
- doubt
to be uncertain about something
Grammar Patterns
tell + (that)-clause
tell + if/whether + clause
can/could tell + noun phrase
Usage Note
Often used with 'can' or 'could' to express the ability to know something with confidence from available evidence.
Common Mistakes
8. when an object, sign, or situation makes a fact clear to you without using spoke
when an object, sign, or situation makes a fact clear to you without using spoken or written words
The thermometer in the car told them the temperature had dropped below zero.
device tells + (that)-clause
Her tired eyes told Christopher he had not slept well the night before.
body language tells + (that)-clause
The way the leaves had fallen told Élise which way the wind had been blowing earlier.
natural clue tells + question-word clause
His worried expression told Hamza that something was wrong with the plan.
The results of the blood test told the doctors that the treatment was working.
- something tells someone
- data tells
- results tell
- expression tells
- hide
to keep information from being known
Grammar Patterns
something tells someone + (that)-clause
Usage Note
The subject is a thing, situation, or piece of evidence — never a person. The indirect object is the person receiving the information.
Common Mistakes
9. to see or notice how two or more things or people are different from each other
to see or notice how two or more things or people are different from each other
The twin sisters look so alike that even their classmates cannot tell them apart.
tell + [persons] + apart
Can you tell the difference between real leather and the kind made from plastic?
tell + the difference + between
Gita could tell the original painting from the copy after studying the brush strokes closely.
tell + [thing A] + from + [thing B]
On a camping trip, Madison could not tell which mushrooms were safe and which poisonous.
Most shoppers cannot tell a genuine diamond from a high-quality fake one without expert help.
- tell apart
- tell the difference
- tell X from Y
- cannot tell
- hard to tell
- distinguish
more formal, commonly used in academic writing
- differentiate
formal, focuses on identifying what makes things distinct
- confuse
to mistakenly think two things are the same
Grammar Patterns
tell + the difference + between + X + and + Y
tell + X + from + Y
tell + X + and + Y + apart
Usage Note
Almost always used with 'can', 'could', or 'be able to'. Often appears in negative constructions ('cannot tell') to emphasise that two things are very similar.
Common Mistakes
10. to claim to know or describe what will happen to someone in the future, often as
to claim to know or describe what will happen to someone in the future, often as a paid service using methods such as cards, palm reading, or astrology
A woman at the night market offered to tell Camille's fortune for just five dollars.
tell + someone's fortune
Rachid visited a fortune-teller who told him he would meet someone special within a year.
fortune-teller + tell + (that)-clause about future
Lin's grandmother still believes that patterns in tea leaves can tell your future.
tell + someone's future
Nadia asked the old man at the festival to tell her fortune using a deck of cards.
- tell fortunes
- tell someone's fortune
- tell the future
- fortune-teller
Grammar Patterns
tell + someone's fortune
tell + fortunes
tell + the future
Usage Note
Typically used with 'fortune', 'fortunes', or 'future' as the object. The person who does this is a 'fortune-teller'.
11. to understand what time it is by looking at the hands or numbers on a clock, wat
to understand what time it is by looking at the hands or numbers on a clock, watch, or other timekeeping device
By the age of five, most children can learn to tell the time from a clock.
tell + the time (basic pattern)
The classroom clock was broken, so Sumin could not tell what time it was until the bell rang.
tell + what time + clause
Manuela checked her watch to tell the exact time of the train's departure.
Grandfather taught Quinn how to tell the time by looking at the position of the sun.
Jasmine wears a digital watch because it makes telling the time easier while running.
- tell the time
- tell what time
- learn to tell time
- can tell time
- read
also used for clocks: 'read a clock'
Grammar Patterns
tell + the time
Usage Note
The object is almost always 'the time'. Can be used with a question-word clause ('tell what time it is'). Also used as 'tell the time' (British) — American English uses 'tell time' without 'the'.
Common Mistakes
12. a fixed expression meaning that the facts about a situation cannot be known or p
a fixed expression meaning that the facts about a situation cannot be known or predicted with confidence — whether about the past, the present, or the future
There is no telling what the weather will be like during the mountain hike next week.
There is no telling + what-clause
If she does not answer her phone soon, there is no telling where she could be right now.
With the engine badly damaged, there was no telling how long the repairs would take.
When you adopt a rescue animal, there is no telling what kind of habits it may already have.
- there is no telling
- there's no telling
- impossible to know
more literal and less idiomatic
Grammar Patterns
There is no telling + question-word clause
Usage Note
A fixed expression always beginning with 'there is no telling'. Unlike other senses of 'tell', this cannot be used with a personal subject. Frequently followed by a question word (what, where, how, when).
Common Mistakes
13. a fixed phrase used to say that the future or the result of something is impossi
a fixed phrase used to say that the future or the result of something is impossible to predict, so you should not assume you know what will happen
Joshua packed both a jacket and a T-shirt, because you never can tell what the weather will do.
you never can tell + what-clause
The market looked quiet, but you never can tell how many shoppers might appear later on.
Ilan sent his application early, but you never can tell how long the committee takes.
That puppy looks calm now, but you never can tell how lively it will be once it grows up.
Yan bought two tickets because you can never tell which film the kids will like more.
variant: you can never tell + which-clause
- you never can tell
- you can never tell
- never can tell
- there is no telling
similar meaning but uses 'there is' + gerund instead of 'you' + modal — see sense 12
- who knows
more casual, often used alone as a rhetorical question
- anything could happen
more direct paraphrase, not a fixed phrase
Grammar Patterns
you never can tell + (wh-)clause
you can never tell + (wh-)clause
Usage Note
Always appears in the fixed negative expression 'you never can tell' or 'you can never tell'. Unlike sense 12 (there is no telling), this phrase uses a personal subject 'you' and cannot begin with 'there is'. Typically followed by a wh-clause (what, how, which, when, where).
Common Mistakes
14. to gradually cause harm or weakness to someone or something, especially over a l
to gradually cause harm or weakness to someone or something, especially over a long period of time — for example, how a stressful job can make a person exhausted or how poor eating habits can damage your health
The long night shifts finally began to tell on Baraka's health after six months.
tell on + [person]'s health
Years spent sitting at a desk can tell on your lower back and neck.
All the stress of managing the restaurant alone was telling on Pim's energy levels.
was telling on + noun phrase (continuous)
The noise from the construction site next door is beginning to tell on the children's concentration.
A poor diet combined with very little sleep will soon tell on anyone's immune system.
will tell on + noun phrase (future)
- tell on health
- tell on energy
- tell on concentration
- tell on nerves
- begin to tell on
- start to tell on
- take a toll on
slightly more formal, very common in American and British English
- wear down
emphasises the gradual loss of strength or resistance
- affect
more neutral; does not imply a negative or gradual effect
- strengthen
the opposite — making someone or something stronger
Grammar Patterns
tell on + noun phrase
Usage Note
Always followed by 'on + noun phrase'. The subject is typically a situation (stress, overwork, noise) rather than a person. This sense is almost never used in the simple present — common tenses are present continuous ('is telling on'), future ('will tell on'), or with 'begin to' / 'start to'.
Common Mistakes
tell against
phrasal verbTo be a disadvantage or have a negative effect on someone or something.
His lack of experience told against him in the interview.
The poor weather told against the team's performance.
tell of
phrasal verbTo describe or give an account of something.
The old man told of his adventures at sea.
Her eyes tell of a deep sadness.
tell off
phrasal verbTo speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong.
The teacher told off the students for being late.
My mom told me off for not cleaning my room.
tell on
phrasal verbTo inform an authority about someone's misbehavior.
If you do that again, I'll tell on you.
She told on her brother for stealing cookies.
all told
idiomIncluding everyone or everything that has been counted.
There are 52 people coming, all told.
All told, the project cost over a million dollars.
don’t tell me
idiomUsed to say that you already know or can guess what someone is going to say, especially because it is typical of them.
Don't tell me you forgot your keys again!
Don't tell me she quit her job—she just started.
To learn about something through conversation or rumor.
I've often heard tell of such things.
Have you ever heard tell of that old legend?
Used to reveal the true facts about a situation, especially when others do not know them.
If the truth be known, I was afraid to tell anyone.
If truth be told, she never liked the gift.
I tell a lie
idiomUsed to correct something you have just said that is not true or accurate.
We first met in 2006, no, I tell a lie, it was 2007.
I paid $50—I tell a lie, it was $60.
Used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when it is surprising or hard to believe.
It isn't cheap, I can tell you!
I'm telling you, that's exactly what she said.
I/I’ll tell you what
idiomUsed to introduce a suggestion or idea.
I'll tell you what—let's stay in instead.
I tell you what, why don't we ask Tom for help?
I told you (so)
idiomUsed when something bad happens to remind someone that you warned them and they did not listen.
I told you so, but you wouldn't listen.
When the car broke down, she said, 'I told you.'
kiss and tell
idiomTo publicly reveal details of a past romantic relationship with a famous person, often for money.
The actress accused him of kiss and tell.
He wrote a kiss-and-tell book about his celebrity ex.
Used to say that you heard something from someone but you do not want to reveal who.
A little bird told me it's your birthday today.
How did you know? A little bird told me.
To survive a dangerous or difficult experience and be able to describe it.
He survived the crash and lived to tell the tale.
Few climbers live to tell the tale of that mountain.
To provide information that contradicts what is expected or previously stated.
The data, however, tell a different story.
Her smile tells a different tale from her words.
tell me
idiomUsed to begin a question or request for information.
Tell me, have you had lunch yet?
Tell me, what do you think of the plan?
tell me about it
idiomUsed to express that you understand and have had the same experience as the speaker.
‘I get so annoyed with Steve!’ ‘Tell me about it.’
‘This traffic is terrible.’ ‘Tell me about it.’
tell me another!
idiomUsed to show that you do not believe what someone has just said.
‘I won the lottery!’ ‘Tell me another!’
He said he was late because of a UFO. Tell me another!
To be self-explanatory without needing further comment.
Her face told its own story.
The empty fridge tells its own tale.
To report someone's wrongdoing to an authority figure.
Don't tell tales on your brother.
She told tales about her classmates to the teacher.
To share or know useful, interesting, or surprising information about someone or something.
After winning several Oscars, Nick Park can tell you a thing or two about making animated films.
My grandmother knows a thing or two about gardening.
tell the time
idiomTo read the time from a clock or watch.
She's only five—she hasn't learnt to tell the time yet.
Can your son tell the time now?
To firmly tell someone that you will no longer tolerate their bad behavior.
She told him where to get off after his rude comments.
If he tries that again, I'll tell him where he can get off.
To angrily reject an offer or suggestion.
He told his boss where to stick the job.
She told him what he could do with his advice.
there’s no telling
idiomIt is impossible to know what happened or will happen.
There's no telling how they'll react.
There's no telling what he might do next.
The result of a situation will only become clear after some time has passed.
Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful.
Time will tell whether the new policy works.
Used when admitting something honestly.
To tell the truth, I fell asleep in the middle of her talk.
To tell you the truth, I don't like spicy food.
You can never be sure because things are not always as they seem.
You can never tell what the weather will be like.
He might be friendly—you never can tell.
you’re telling me!
idiomUsed to express strong agreement with what someone has said.
‘This is hard work.’ ‘You're telling me!’
‘The traffic is awful.’ ‘You're telling me!’
tell — noun
1. a small, unconscious movement or expression that a poker player makes, which let
a small, unconscious movement or expression that a poker player makes, which lets other players guess whether their hand is strong or weak
Dario noticed that Liang always tapped the table twice when he had a strong hand.
tell + when-clause for condition
Ava's tell was a slight smile that appeared just before she placed her chips.
The other players quickly learned Ritu's tell, so she had to change it.
learn + possessive + tell (common collocation)
Experienced card players watch for tells like shallow breathing or shaky hands.
Rachid's tell during the final round was so obvious that everyone at the table folded.
- have a tell
- spot a tell
- pick up on someone's tell
- read someone's tell
- learn someone's tell
- poker face
the deliberate absence of any tell
Grammar Patterns
possessive + tell
Usage Note
Frequently used with a possessive determiner ('his tell', 'her tell'). The term is especially common in poker strategy discussions and commentary.
2. any small action, look, or change in behaviour that accidentally shows what a pe
any small action, look, or change in behaviour that accidentally shows what a person truly feels or intends, particularly when they wish to hide it
When Élise was nervous during the interview, her tell was that she kept twisting her ring.
tell + that-clause for revealing behaviour
A child's biggest tell when lying is that they cannot look you in the eye.
The detective watched for tells that the suspect was hiding something, like avoiding direct questions.
tell that + clause (detecting deception)
David's tell in meetings was a quick cough before he disagreed with a proposal.
Small-town people can often spot a tourist's tells, such as looking at maps too often.
- spot someone's tell
- have a tell
- a tell that...
- watch for tells
Grammar Patterns
possessive + tell
tell + that-clause
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Say, speak, talk, and narrate all involve using words, but they have different grammar patterns and scope. Say is the most neutral and flexible — you say words or say a sentence, but you do not need a listener object ("He said he was tired"). Tell always requires the listener as an object ("He told me he was tired") and is used for giving information, instructions, or stories. Speak often focuses on the ability or act of using language itself ("She speaks three languages"), while talk emphasises an exchange or conversation between two or more people ("They talked for an hour"). Narrate is more formal and describes the act of telling a story in detail, often in a structured or literary way ("She narrated her journey through the Amazon"). To choose: use tell when you have a listener in mind and you are passing along facts, instructions, or a story; use say when you are reporting words without focusing on the listener; use speak for language ability or formal address; use talk for casual conversation; and use narrate for a careful, detailed account.
Common collocations
Nouns
- tell a story
- tell the truth
- tell a lie
- tell the time
- tell the difference
- tell a tale
- tell fortunes
Adverbs
- clearly tell
- honestly tell
- easily tell
- exactly tell
- hardly tell
- immediately tell
Phrases
- tell me about it
- tell you the truth
- you never can tell
- there is no telling
- tell someone what to do
- tell someone off
Etymology
The verb "tell" comes from Old English tellan, which originally meant "to count" or "to calculate" — the same root as the modern word "tally." This counting origin is still visible in phrases like "tell time" (count the hours) and "tell apart" (count the differences). By the early medieval period, tellan had also taken on the meaning "to narrate, to relate in speech," which became its most common sense. It traces back to Proto-Germanic *taljaną (to count, to tell), related to *talą (number, speech). Cognates include Old Saxon tellian, Old High German zellen, Old Norse telja, and modern German erzählen (to tell a story).