tell S1 W1 /tel/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle told ) /təʊld $ toʊld/
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: tellan ]
1 . COMMUNICATE SOMETHING [transitive] if someone tells you something, they communicate information, a story, their feelings etc to you
tell somebody (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 somebody 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 somebody about something
No one had told them about the drug’s side effects.
I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.
tell somebody something
Tell me your phone number again.
tell (somebody) a story/joke/secret/lie
She told us some funny stories about her sister.
Sheppard was telling the truth.
tell somebody straight (=tell someone the truth, even though it might upset them)
Tell me straight, Adam. Just answer yes or no.
► Do not say ‘tell that ...’. Say tell someone that ... or say that ... : She told me (NOT She told) that she was a vegetarian. | She said that she was a vegetarian. ⇨ see Thesaurus box on P.1816
REGISTER
In written English, people often prefer to say that another writer describes something, rather than using tell :
▪
His book describes how the human brain has developed.
2 . SHOW SOMETHING [transitive] to give information in ways other than talking
tell somebody 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 somebody about something
What do these fossils tell us about climate change?
3 . WHAT SOMEBODY SHOULD DO [transitive] to say that someone must do something
tell somebody (not) to do something
The teacher told the children to sit down quietly.
I thought I told you not to touch anything!
tell somebody (that)
Bernice was told she had to work late this evening.
tell somebody 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 [intransitive, transitive 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 (something) 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 something by something/from something
I could tell from his tone of voice that Ken was disappointed.
5 . RECOGNIZE DIFFERENCE [transitive not in progressive] to be able to see how one person or thing is different from another
tell something from something
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 something to persuade yourself that something is true:
I keep telling myself there is nothing I could have done to save him.
7 . WARN [transitive usually in past tense] to warn someone that something bad might happen
tell somebody (that)
I told you it was a waste of time talking to him.
tell somebody (not) to do something
My mother told me not to trust Robert.
8 . TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT BAD BEHAVIOUR [intransitive] informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done – used especially by children SYN tell on somebody :
If you hit me, I’ll tell.
⇨ ↑ kiss-and-tell
9 . tell tales British English 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
⇨ ↑ telltale 2
10 . all told altogether, when everyone or everything has been counted:
There must have been eight cars in the accident, all told.
11 . AFFECT [intransitive not in progressive] to have an effect on someone, especially a harmful one
tell on somebody
These late nights are really beginning to tell on him.
12 . tell the time British English , tell time American English to be able to know what time it is by looking at a clock
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
13 . 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) American English 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . I’ll tell you something/one thing/another thing ( also let me tell you something/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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . somebody tells me (that) used to say what someone has told you:
Mike tells me you’ve got a new job.
24 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . that would be telling used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret
29 . tell somebody 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 . tell it like it is American English 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 . 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 . tell me another (one) used when you do not believe what someone has told you
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ tell a story/tale
He then told the story of how he was injured while riding his motorcycle.
▪ tell a joke
They sat around telling terrible jokes.
▪ tell somebody a secret
I offered to tell her my secret if she didn’t tell anyone else.
▪ tell a lie
They told lies about us.
▪ tell the truth
‘I’m telling you the truth,’ she persisted.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ tell to give someone information by speaking or writing to them:
She wrote to tell me she was getting married.
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Can you tell us where the nearest garage is?
▪ let somebody know especially spoken to tell someone something when you know more about it:
Let me know your new address as soon as you can.
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Let us know what happens at the interview.
▪ pass a message on to somebody ( also pass it on informal ) to tell another person the information that has been told to you:
She’s with a client at the moment, but I’ll pass the message on to her.
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If I get any news, I’ll pass it on.
▪ brief to give someone all the necessary information about a situation, so that they can do their work:
Police officers were briefed before going out to arrest the suspects.
▪ relate formal to tell someone about something that happened to you or to someone else:
One girl related a story about a friend who had accidentally become pregnant.
▪ recount formal to tell someone about a series of events:
The guide recounted the history of the castle, from the 1300s onwards.
▪ bring something to sb’s attention to tell someone about something that they did not know about, but which they need to know about:
I wanted to bring the matter to your attention.
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She was the first person to study the effects of pesticides, and to bring them to people’s attention.
▪ fill somebody in informal to tell someone about things that have happened recently, especially at work:
Can you fill Robert in on the progress we’ve made while he’s been on holiday?
■ to officially tell someone
▪ inform to officially tell someone about something:
Do you think we ought to inform the police?
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Doctors should inform patients about the possible side effects of any drugs they prescribe.
▪ announce to tell people publicly and officially about something:
The university chancellor announced his resignation on Friday.
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It was announced that the company had made a profit of $6 billion.
▪ report to officially tell someone about something that has happened:
She was able to report that the project was nearly finished.
▪ notify formal to tell someone officially about something that has happened or that is planned to happen:
Staff were notified several months in advance that they would be losing their jobs.
tell against somebody phrasal verb British English formal
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 somebody/something apart phrasal verb
if you can tell two people or things apart, you can see the difference between them, so that you do not confuse them SYN distinguish :
It’s almost impossible to tell the twins apart.
tell of somebody/something phrasal verb literary
to describe an event or person:
The poem tells of the deeds of a famous warrior.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that a poem, story etc is about something rather than tells of something:
▪
What's his latest poem about?
tell somebody ↔ off phrasal verb
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 somebody off for doing something
My dad told me off for swearing.
tell on somebody phrasal verb informal
to 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!