tell on
The phrase "tell on" is often used to describe the act of informing an authority about someone's misbehavior or wrongdoing, typically in an informal context.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B1Everyday Language
(informal, idiomatic)To inform an authority figure about someone's misbehavior or wrongdoing.
Example
- She threatened to tell on her brother if he didn't share the candy.
- The students were afraid that someone would tell on them for skipping class.
B2Health and Well-being
(informal)To cause visible signs of strain or stress on someone.
Example
- The long hours at work are starting to tell on him.
- Her constant worrying is telling on her health.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tell on":
tell againsttell alltell talestell the truthtell offblow the gafftelling offdrop a dimeblow the whistlespill one's gutstell it to the judgecome cleantip one's handblow someone's covertip off