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.
Can you please tell me the way to the nearest station?
- listen
the opposite action — receiving rather than giving information
文法句型
tell + object + that-clause
tell + object + to-infinitive
tell + object + about + noun phrase
tell + object + quoted speech
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- tell the truth
the direct opposite — saying what is true
文法句型
tell + a lie
tell + object + that-clause (untrue)
tell + lies
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- confess
stronger — usually to a crime or serious wrongdoing
- come clean
informal, means to finally admit everything
文法句型
tell + object + the truth
tell + object + everything
tell + object + the whole story
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- cover up
to hide someone's bad behaviour instead of reporting it
文法句型
tell tales
tell on + person
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
文法句型
tell + someone + what/how + clause
tell + possessive + thoughts/feelings
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
文法句型
To be honest, + clause
To tell you the truth, + clause
I must be honest, + clause
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
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.
- doubt
to be uncertain about something
文法句型
tell + (that)-clause
tell + if/whether + clause
can/could tell + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with 'can' or 'could' to express the ability to know something with confidence from available evidence.
常見錯誤
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.
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.
- hide
to keep information from being known
文法句型
something tells someone + (that)-clause
用法筆記
The subject is a thing, situation, or piece of evidence — never a person. The indirect object is the person receiving the information.
常見錯誤
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.
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.
- 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
文法句型
tell + the difference + between + X + and + Y
tell + X + from + Y
tell + X + and + Y + apart
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
Nadia asked the old man at the festival to tell her fortune using a deck of cards.
文法句型
tell + someone's fortune
tell + fortunes
tell + the future
用法筆記
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.
- read
also used for clocks: 'read a clock'
文法句型
tell + the time
用法筆記
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'.
常見錯誤
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.
- impossible to know
more literal and less idiomatic
文法句型
There is no telling + question-word clause
用法筆記
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).
常見錯誤
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.
- 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
文法句型
you never can tell + (wh-)clause
you can never tell + (wh-)clause
用法筆記
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).
常見錯誤
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.
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.
- 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
文法句型
tell on + noun phrase
用法筆記
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'.
常見錯誤
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.
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.
- poker face
the deliberate absence of any tell
文法句型
possessive + tell
用法筆記
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.
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.
文法句型
possessive + tell
tell + that-clause