tell*/*/*/

[tel]

(past tense and past participle told [təʊld] ) verb

1) [T] to give information to someone

If you see anything suspicious, tell the police.[/ex]

Didn't he tell you that I wanted to see you?[/ex]

Just tell me what she said.[/ex]

He finally told me the reason he was so upset.[/ex]

‘Tell me about your day,' she said.[/ex]

I haven't been told anything about it.[/ex]

See:

say

2) [T] if something such as a fact, event, or piece of equipment tells you something, it gives you or shows you some information

The flashing light tells you when the battery needs recharging.[/ex]

What does this room tell you about the person who lived here?[/ex]

3) [T] if you tell a story or a joke, you give someone a spoken account of it

Grandpa tells wonderful stories about the old days.[/ex]

Shall I tell you a joke?[/ex]

4) [T] to order or strongly advise someone to do something

I'm not asking you – I'm telling you![/ex]

I told you to be here on time this morning.[/ex]

I told him what to do, but he wouldn't listen.[/ex]

5) [I/T] to recognize something as a result of experience or evidence

He's lying. I can always tell.[/ex]

It's never easy to tell whether he's being serious or not.[/ex]

Peter could tell that she was bored.[/ex]

6) to have an effect that can be clearly seen, especially a bad effect

The strain of the last few days was beginning to tell.[/ex]

7) [I/T] to recognize the difference between one person or thing and another

Which is which? I can't tell.[/ex]

These days it's hard to tell the difference between political parties.[/ex]

Can you tell butter from margarine?[/ex]

8) [I] informal

to not keep a secret

You promised you wouldn't tell.[/ex]

•

(I'll) tell you what — used when you are going to make a suggestion, proposal, or offer[/ex]

[i]I'll tell you what - let's have the party here.[/ex]

I'm telling you; I tell you — spokenused for emphasizing that what you are saying is true, although it may seem surprising or hard to believe[/ex]

I'm telling you - that's how it happened.[/ex]

I told you (so) — used for saying that you warned someone that something bad would happen and that you have now been proved to be right[/ex]

tell the time — to know what time it is when you look at a clock or watch[/ex]

there's no telling who/what/when/how etc — used for saying that it is impossible to be certain about something[/ex]

There was no telling how he would react.[/ex]

you never can tell — used for saying that it is impossible to be certain about something[/ex]

You can never tell how long these meetings will last.[/ex]

See:

telling

- tell sb/sth apart

- tell sb off