do tell

Idioms  

1. A phrase used to express surprise about something, as in Jane's getting married again? Do tell. This expression does not necessarily ask the speaker to provide more details but merely expresses one's astonishment. [Colloquial; first half of 1800] For a synonym, see you don't say.

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Example Sentences

“Sometimes they do tell me, ‘Well, you’re the problem,’” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

Lastly, in the event that you do tell a colleague “maybe,” it is a good idea to give a definitive answer as soon as possible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

"But if I do tell them, then they are like, 'oh okay', and it doesn't seem abnormal after that. In fact, my friends think it is quite cool."

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2023

And that's the beauty of deciding what to glean from these visuals – when we do tell stories about ourselves to ourselves, they loosen the limitations of what the accompanying illustration could look like.

From Salon • May 21, 2023

I do tell them about the journal, though, and how someone was writing to me and how we figured out that it was Madeline Mitchell.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish