tell on

Idioms  

1. Tattle on, inform on, as in Marjorie said she'd tell on him if he pulled her hair again. This seemingly modern term appeared in a 1539 translation of the Bible (I Samuel 27:11): “David saved neither man nor woman ... for fear (said he) lest they should tell on us.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tell on

“I think it’s really about inflation, and Friday is going to be the big tell on that front,” said Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at Manulife John Hancock Investment Management.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

The final product is not that — there are stories that I tell on the record, but every song is not a story song.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

My daughter loved—and believed—the mythical stories Bruce would tell on stage about how his saxophonist buddy Clarence Clemons, who he dubbed “The Big Man,” joined the band.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

"It's the play that tells the exact story that I want this national theatre company to be able to tell, on the second biggest stage in Europe," Sheen told BBC News.

From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2025

He said he was going to tell on Caddy and Quentin, and then Quentin and Caddy began to splash water at Versh.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

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Related Words

• advise
• apprise
• brief
• caution
• educate
• instruct
• notify
• tell
• update
• warn

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