if something such as a fact, event, or piece of equipment tells you something, it gives or shows you some information
if you tell a story or a joke, you give someone a spoken account of it
to give information to someone
to have an effect that can be clearly seen, especially a bad effect
to inform someone about something bad that someone else has done
to not keep a secret
to order or strongly advise someone to do something
to recognize something as a result of knowledge, experience, or evidence
to recognize the difference between one person or thing and another
Can you tell butter from margarine?
Didn’t he tell you that I wanted to see you?
Do as you’re told this minute!
Grandpa tells wonderful stories about the old days.
He finally told me the reason why he was so upset.
He tells some absolute whoppers (=big lies) sometimes.
Her look of surprise told him that he had guessed right.
He’s lying. I can always tell.
His troubled face told its own story.
I haven’t been told anything about it.
I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I told him what to do, but he wouldn’t listen.
I told you to be here on time this morning.
If you see anything suspicious, tell the police.
It’s never easy to tell whether he’s being serious or not.
I’m not asking you – I’m telling you!
Just tell me what she said.
Peter could tell that she was bored.
Shall I tell you a joke?
She threatened to tell on me.
So it's a draw-I don't tell on him and he doesn't tell on me.
The facts themselves don’t tell us much.
The flashing light tells you when the battery needs recharging.
The passengers were told their flight was about to depart.
The strain of the last few days was beginning to tell.
These days it’s hard to tell the difference between political parties.
These endless business trips are telling on his marriage.
They’re so alike I can never tell one from the other.
Were you told when she would be arriving?
What does this room tell you about the person who lived here?
Which is which? I can’t tell.
You promised you wouldn’t tell.
You will be told where to sit.
‘Tell me about your day,’ she said.
tell
tells
telling
told
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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