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

"That is our biggest distributor so it is starting to tell on our counter as it becomes increasingly empty."

From BBC ● May 17, 2025

I was too embarrassed about getting tricked to tell on them so I went in the house and watched TV.

From "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Related Words

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