tell tales

Idioms  

1. Divulge secrets, as in Don't trust him; he's apt to tell tales. This expression was first recorded about 1350. A variant, tell tales out of school, first recorded in 1530, presumably alluded to schoolchildren gossiping but was soon broadened to revealing secret or private information. Both may be obsolescent.

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Example Sentences

So he decides to keep appearing in clubs to tell tales of his relationship woes, lacing the commentary with rueful remarks that are vaguely comic, though nothing he says is actually funny.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Those who were in Sin City that week in December 2007 tell tales of thousands of British fight fans emptying the bars of alcohol.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2025

His capacity to tell tales is still worthy of Gabriel García Márquez.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

TikTok, Twitter, Reddit and other sites tell tales of similar woes.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2022

The elders would tell tales of the wars fought by our ancestors in defense of the Fatherland, as well as the acts of valor by generals and soldiers during these epic days..

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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