[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/tell/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / tell # tell verb (tell, tells, told, telling); noun (a tell — a sign that gives you away, in games) «tell» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To tell is to say something to someone so they know it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m1) 2. To tell a story or a joke is to say it out loud for others. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m2) 3. To tell can mean to know or see a difference: «I can't tell the twins apart». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m3) 4. To tell someone to do something is to order them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m4) 5. To tell the time is to read a clock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m5) 6. To tell on someone is to report them to a grown-up (kids also say «dob in» in Australia and NZ, «snitch» or «grass» in rude slang). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m6) 7. (casual) «I'm telling you», «tell me about it» mean «I agree, it's true». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m7) 8. (rude) To tell someone off is to scold them; «tell him where to go» means be rude to him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m8) 9. (formal) Exams say «state», «indicate», «specify», «inform» or «determine» for tell. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#m9) ### In the lessons which operation a word signals: cue words tell us what to do; «tell how many» asks for an answer; in daily life we tell the truth, tell the time and tell an adult when something is wrong; phrases: «tell the truth», «tell a lie», «tell apart», «tell the time», «tell on someone», «tell off», «you can tell»; in casual talk «I'm tellin' ya», «tell me about it», «don't tell Mum»; in rough talk «tell anyone and you're dead» (a threat: tell an adult anyway), «snitch»; in the exam voice «state the number», «indicate which», «specify» ### Examples - The words «more», «in all», «altogether» and «in total» tell us to add. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x1) - Tell how many apples are left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x2) - Grandpa told us a story about a bear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x3) - Can you tell the time on this clock? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x4) - Always tell an adult if a stranger asks you to go with them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x5) - I can't tell which twin is Sam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x6) - Mum told me off for eating 5 biscuits. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x7) - I'm telling ya, it's 12, I counted twice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x8) - «This bus is always late.» «Tell me about it.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x9) - Tell anyone and you're dead, ya snitch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x10) - State the number of items remaining. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x11) - You can tell he's tired: he's yawning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/#x12) ### Note Past: told. You tell someone something; you say something (to someone). Wrong: «She said me»; right: «She told me». Carries no operation clue itself; it points to the cue words or asks for an answer. «State», «indicate», «specify» in an exam mean tell. Safety: a threat like «tell anyone and you're dead» is a reason to tell a trusted adult, not to keep quiet; telling to keep someone safe is not snitching. ## In Jewish tradition On Passover Jews are commanded to tell their children the story of leaving Egypt, and the seder's book, the Haggadah, comes from a word meaning telling. In the primary lessons: which operation a word signals: cue words tell us what to do; «tell how many» asks for an answer; in daily life we tell the truth, tell the time and tell an adult when something is wrong; phrases: «tell the truth», «tell a lie», «tell apart», «tell the time», «tell on someone», «tell off», «you can tell»; in casual talk «I'm tellin' ya», «tell me about it», «don't tell Mum»; in rough talk «tell anyone and you're dead» (a threat: tell an adult anyway), «snitch»; in the exam voice «state the number», «indicate which», «specify» ### Examples - And he told Laban all these things. (Torah GEN.29.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/#x1) - And He said: 'Who told thee that thou wast naked? (Torah GEN.3.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/#x2) - So Moses went down unto the people, and told them. (Torah EXO.19.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/#x3) - But he told not his father. (Prophets 1SA.14.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/#x4) - Wherefore they came back, and told him. (Prophets 2KI.9.36, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/#x5) - And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. (Writings EST.4.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/#x6) ### Note Past: told. You tell someone something; you say something (to someone). Wrong: «She said me»; right: «She told me». Carries no operation clue itself; it points to the cue words or asks for an answer. «State», «indicate», «specify» in an exam mean tell. Safety: a threat like «tell anyone and you're dead» is a reason to tell a trusted adult, not to keep quiet; telling to keep someone safe is not snitching. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «tell» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tell/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«tell» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tell.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «tell» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/tell/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«tell» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/tell.html) on Mova free.