n. 25B6; verb
why didn't you tell me before? : INFORM, notify, apprise, let know, make aware, acquaint with, advise, put in the picture, brief, fill in; alert, warn; informal clue in/up.
she told the story slowly : RELATE, recount, narrate, unfold, report, recite, describe, sketch, weave, spin; utter, voice, state, declare, communicate, impart, divulge.
she told him to leave : INSTRUCT, order, command, direct, charge, enjoin, call on, require; poetic/literary bid.
I tell you, I did nothing wrong : ASSURE, promise, give one's word, swear, guarantee.
the figures tell a different story : REVEAL, show, indicate, be evidence of, disclose, convey, signify.
promise you won't tell? : GIVE THE GAME AWAY, talk, tell tales, tattle; informal spill the beans, let the cat out of the bag, blab; Brit. informal blow the gaff.
she was bound to tell on him : INFORM ON, tell tales on, give away, denounce, sell out; informal split on, blow the whistle on, rat on, peach on, squeal on; Brit. informal grass on, sneak on, shop; N. Amer. informal finger; Austral./NZ informal dob on.
it was hard to tell what he said : ASCERTAIN, determine, work out, make out, deduce, discern, perceive, see, identify, recognize, understand, comprehend; informal figure out; Brit. informal suss out.
he couldn't tell one from the other : DISTINGUISH, differentiate, discriminate.
the strain began to tell on him : TAKE ITS TOLL, leave its mark; affect.
25A0; tell someone off (informal) . See reprimand verb .