tell
verb /tel/
/tel/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they tell | /tel/ /tel/ |
| he / she / it tells | /telz/ /telz/ |
| past simple told | /təʊld/ /təʊld/ |
| past participle told | /təʊld/ /təʊld/ |
| -ing form telling | /ˈtelɪŋ/ /ˈtelɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] (of a person) to give information to somebody by speaking or writing
- tell something to somebody He told the news to everybody he saw.
- tell somebody something He told everybody he saw the news.
- Did she tell you her name?
- What did I tell you? (= you should have listened to my advice)
- ‘Come closer,’ she said, ‘I want to tell you something’.
- tell somebody about something Why wasn't I told about the accident?
- tell somebody/yourself (that)… They’ve told us (that) they’re not coming.
- I told him straight (= in a direct way) that I wasn't voting for him.
- He later told the court that he had returned the money.
- I kept telling myself (that) everything was OK.
- Are you telling me you didn't have any help with this? (= I don't believe what you have said)
- tell somebody where, what, etc… Tell me where you live.
- tell somebody + speech ‘I'm ready to go now,’ he told her.
- 'We hope that there will be some progress,' he told reporters.
Which Word? say / tellsay / tell- Say never has a person as the object. You say something or say something to somebody. Say is often used when you are giving somebody’s exact words:
- ‘Sit down,’ she said.
- Anne said, ‘I’m tired.’
- Anne said (that) she was tired.
- What did he say to you?
- I want to say something/a few words/a little about my family.
- She didn’t say what she intended to do.
- Tell usually has a person as the object and often has two objects:
- Have you told him the news yet?
- Anne told me (that) she was tired.
- Can you tell me when the movie starts?
- Can you give me some information about the school?
- The doctor told me to stay in bed.
- The doctor told me (that) I had to stay in bed.
- The doctor said (that) I had to stay in bed.
- The doctor said me to stay in bed.
Express Yourself Asking for informationAsking for informationWhen you want to find something out, it sounds more polite if you can phrase your questions in an indirect way:- Could you tell me the best way to get to Paddington station, please?
- Do you happen to know whether Amy Brown works here?
- I wonder whether/if you can help me. I'm trying to find out which number to call for reservations.
Extra Examples- I tried to tell them but they wouldn't let me.
- I was going to tell you—I just didn't get around to it.
- I hate to tell you this but I've broken your phone.
- I never told him about the money.
- No one had told her of the dangers.
- She told me bluntly it was my own fault.
- Did anyone tell you what happened?
- The government refused to tell them anything about its investigation.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- bluntly
- curtly
- flatly
- …
- want to
- be going to
- try to
- …
- about
- of
- to
- …
- [transitive] (of some writing, an instrument, a sign, etc.) to give information about something
- tell somebody something The advertisement told us very little about the product.
- tell somebody how, where, etc… This gauge tells you how much fuel you have left.
- tell somebody (that)… The sound of his breathing told her (that) he was asleep.
- [transitive] to express something in words
- tell something to tell stories/jokes/lies
- Are you sure you're telling the truth?
- tell somebody how, what, etc… I can't tell you how happy I am.
- tell somebody something We'd go fishing and she'd tell me stories.
- All of them had an interesting story to tell.
Extra Examples- He told the story to all his friends.
- She is always telling lies.
- [intransitive] (informal) to let somebody know a secret
- Promise you won't tell.
- ‘Who are you going out with tonight?’ ‘That would be telling!’ (= it's a secret)
- [transitive] to order or advise somebody to do something
- tell somebody/yourself to do something He was told to sit down and wait.
- There was a sign telling motorists to slow down.
- I kept telling myself to keep calm.
- I specifically told you to be here on time.
- tell somebody something Do what I tell you.
- tell somebody Children must do as they're told.
- tell somebody what, when, etc… Don't tell me what to do!
- tell somebody (that)… The doctor told me (that) I should eat less fat.
Express Yourself Telling somebody to do somethingTelling somebody to do something- Could you wait here for a moment, please?
- Would you come through now?/You can come through now.
- Can you send it up to my room, please?
- Just sign here for me, please.
- I need you to finish the report by Friday.
- Everyone has to use the side entrance this week.
- You have to sign these reports before submitting them.
Synonyms orderorder- tell
- instruct
- direct
- command
- order to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
- The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employee.
- ‘Come here at once!’ she ordered.
- tell to say to somebody that they must or should do something:
- He was told to sit down and wait.
- Don’t tell me what to do!
- instruct (rather formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way:
- The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.
- direct (formal) to give an official order:
- The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.
- command to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something:
- He commanded his men to retreat.
- to order/tell/instruct/direct/command somebody to do something
- to order/instruct/direct/command that…
- to do something as ordered/told/instructed/directed/commanded
Which Word? say / tellsay / tell- Say never has a person as the object. You say something or say something to somebody. Say is often used when you are giving somebody’s exact words:
- ‘Sit down,’ she said.
- Anne said, ‘I’m tired.’
- Anne said (that) she was tired.
- What did he say to you?
- I want to say something/a few words/a little about my family.
- She didn’t say what she intended to do.
- Tell usually has a person as the object and often has two objects:
- Have you told him the news yet?
- Anne told me (that) she was tired.
- Can you tell me when the movie starts?
- Can you give me some information about the school?
- The doctor told me to stay in bed.
- The doctor told me (that) I had to stay in bed.
- The doctor said (that) I had to stay in bed.
- The doctor said me to stay in bed.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- firmly
- sternly
- [intransitive, transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to know, see or judge something correctly
- I think he's happy. It's hard to tell.
- As far as I can tell, she's enjoying the course.
- ‘That's not an original.’ ‘How can you tell?’
- tell (that)… I could tell (that) he was angry from his expression.
- tell how, if, etc… The only way to tell if you like something is by trying it.
- It's too early to tell how popular this service will be.
- It's impossible to tell exactly where the problem is.
- [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses or in the passive) to recognize the difference between one thing or person and another
- tell something It was hard to tell the difference between the two versions.
- tell A from B Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?
- Can you tell this copy from the original?
- tell A and B apart It's difficult to tell them apart.
- tell which, what, etc… The kittens look exactly alike—how can you tell which is which?
- I couldn't tell who was meant to be the chairman.
- [intransitive] tell (on somebody) to have an effect on somebody/something, especially a bad one
- The strain was beginning to tell on the rescue team.
More Like This Verbs with two objectsVerbs with two objects- bet
- bring
- build
- buy
- cost
- get
- give
- leave
- lend
- make
- offer
- owe
- pass
- pay
- play
- post
- promise
- read
- refuse
- sell
- send
- show
- sing
- take
- teach
- tell
- throw
- wish
- write
give information
express in words
secret
order
know/judge
distinguish
have effect
Word OriginOld English tellan ‘relate, count, estimate’, of Germanic origin; related to German zählen ‘reckon, count’, erzählen ‘recount, relate’, also to tale.
Idioms
all told
- with all people, etc. counted and included
- There are 52 people coming, all told.
don’t tell me
- (informal) used to say that you know or can guess what somebody is going to say, especially because it is typical of them
- Don't tell me you were late again!
hear tell (of something)
- (old-fashioned or formal) to hear people talking about something
- I've often heard tell of such things.
if (the) truth be known/told
- used to tell somebody the true facts about a situation, especially when these are not known by other people
- If the truth be known, I was afraid to tell anyone.
I tell a lie
- (British English, informal) used to say that something you have just said is not true or correct
- We first met in 2006, no, I tell a lie, it was 2007.
I tell you | I can tell you | I’m telling you
- (informal) used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when it is surprising or difficult to believe
- It isn't cheap, I can tell you!
- I'm telling you, that's exactly what she said.
I/I’ll tell you what
- (informal) used to introduce a suggestion
- I'll tell you what—let's stay in instead.
I told you (so)
- (informal) used when something bad has happened, to remind somebody that you warned them about it and they did not listen to you
kiss and tell
- a way of referring to somebody talking publicly, usually for money, about a past sexual relationship with somebody famous
know/tell somebody a thing or two (about somebody/something)
- (informal) to know/tell somebody some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something
- She's been married five times, so she knows a thing or two about men!
a little bird told me
- (informal) used to say that somebody told you something but you do not want to say who it was
live, etc. to tell the tale
- to survive a difficult or dangerous experience so that you can tell others what really happenedTopics Dangerc2
tell a different story/tale
- to give some information that is different from what you expect or have been told
- These drugs are widely believed to be effective medications. The data, however, tell a different story.
tell me
- (informal) used to introduce a question
- Tell me, have you had lunch yet?
tell me about it
- (informal) used to say that you understand what somebody is talking about and have had the same experience
- ‘I get so annoyed with Steve!’ ‘Tell me about it. He drives me crazy.’
tell me another!
- (informal) used to tell somebody that you do not believe what they have said
tell its own tale/story
- to explain itself, without needing any further explanation or comment
- Her face told its own story.
tell tales (about something/on somebody)
- to tell somebody about something that another person has done wrong related noun telltale
tell somebody/know a thing or two (about somebody/something)
- (informal) to tell somebody/know some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something
- After winning several Oscars, Nick Park can tell you a thing or two about making animated films.
tell the time (British English)
(North American English tell time)
- to read the time from a clock, etc.
- She's only five—she hasn't learnt to tell the time yet.
tell somebody where to get off/where they can get off
- (British English, informal) to make it clear to somebody that you will no longer accept their bad behaviour
tell somebody where to put/stick something | tell somebody what they can do with something
- (informal) to make it clear to somebody that you are angry and are rejecting what they are offering you
there’s no telling
- used to say that it is impossible to know what happened or will happen
- There's no telling how they'll react.
time (alone) will tell | only time will tell
- (saying) used to say that you will have to wait for some time to find out the result of a situation
- Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful.
to tell (you) the truth
- (informal) used when admitting something
- To tell the truth, I fell asleep in the middle of her talk.
you can never tell | you never can tell
- (saying) you can never be sure, for example because things are not always what they appear to beTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc1
you’re telling me!
- (informal) I completely agree with youTopics Opinion and argumentc2