Collocations with Tell! Learn commonly used collocations and expressions with Tell in English with example sentences and ESL picture to improve your English.
Useful list of verb noun collocations in English.
List of Expressions with Tell
- Tell a joke
- Tell a lie
- Tell a secret
- Tell a story
- Tell the time
- Tell the difference
- Tell someone’s future
- Tell the truth
- Tell your name
Examples of Collocations with Tell
Tell a joke
- The host tell a joke to his guest to break the ice.
Tell a lie
- My mother and dad taught me never to tell a lie.
Tell a secret
- Come over here, Luke wants to tell you a secret.
Tell a story
- Gather (a)round and I’ll tell you a story.
Tell the time
- My daughter has just learned to tell the time.
Tell the difference
- Can you tell the difference between apes and monkeys?
Tell someone’s future
- At the fair, there was a lady who told your fortune.
Tell the truth
- I felt it was my duty to tell them the truth.
Tell your name
- If I get an award I’ll tell your name first on the stage.
Expressions with Tell | Picture
Pin
Last Updated on April 3, 2020
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
• Differences between say/tell/speak/talk
• Common expressions
• Idioms with say, tell, speak or talk
• Practice exercises
Say, tell, speak or talk – what’s the difference?
Say, tell, speak and talk are four very similar words that can be difficult to use correctly in English! Mistakes are common when there are no exact equivalents in your native language, or when rules on usage differ. Let’s look at the differences between say, tell, speak and talk by explaining how each word is used separately.
How to use SAY
I say – He/She/It says – We/They say
I will say – I am saying – I said – I have said
When we use ‘say’, we do not use an object (e.g. me/them/you) immediately after the verb. The verb ‘say’ is used when we quote people directly and also when we give instructions. For example:
- ‘Amelia said she would be back soon.’
- ‘The weatherman said it would rain today.’
- ‘I won’t say this again! – Will you please get ready for school now?’
Say can also be used to express an opinion or thought, as in: ‘I say we should give each person twenty tickets each to sell.’
How to use TELL
I tell – She/He/It tells – They/We tell
I will tell – I am telling – I told – I have told
When we use ‘tell’, we also include the object (e.g. you/her/us) immediately after the verb. The verb ‘tell’ is used when we say something to someone, and is commonly used when giving an order or instruction. For example:
- ‘I told my son to brush his teeth.’
- ‘The teacher told the class to do their homework.’
- ‘You forgot to tell me to bring my swimming costume!’
Sometimes ‘say’ and ‘tell’ can be used interchangeably to express the same meaning when information is being passed from one person to another. In this case, the construction would be: ‘tell’ + object or ‘say’ + ‘to’ + object. For example:
- ‘Laura told me that she would be late for work.’
- ‘Laura said to me that she would be late for work.’
Learners of English often make mistakes like ‘He said me…’ or ‘She said me that…’. This is incorrect. Remember to include ‘to’ between ‘said’ and the object! Just as you would ‘send a letter TO someone’, you would also ‘say something TO someone’. The preposition ‘to’ shows the direction in which the information is going.
How to use SPEAK
I speak – She/He/It speaks – They/We speak
I will speak – I am speaking – I spoke – I have spoken
We use the verb ‘speak’ (instead of ‘talk’) when we are in a more formal situation and wish to emphasise that something is important. When ‘speak’ is used as a noun (speech) it also takes on a more formal tone that when we use ‘talk’ – i.e. ‘Give a speech’ is more formal than ‘give a talk’. For example:
- ‘We need to speak about your attendance this term!’ (stricter than ‘talk about’)
- ‘John will be speaking at an international conference next month.’ (more prestigious than ‘give a talk on…’)
We can also use ‘speak’ to describe verbal fluency or knowledge of languages, as in: ‘He speaks three languages fluently – German, French and Spanish.’. In this context, ‘speak’ simply means that the person knows the languages. It doesn’t only refer to spoken ability.
How to use TALK
I talk – She/He/It talks – They/We talk
I will talk – I am talking – I talked – I have talked
We use the verb ‘talk’ when we are in a more relaxed setting or when we are among friends in a conversational situation. You can think of ‘talk’ as a slightly more formal word for ‘chat’. For example:
- ‘Sorry, who were you talking to before I interrupted?’
- ‘I was talking with my mum the other day and we decided that…’
- ‘I love chatting with my mates (friends) over a cuppa (cup of tea)!’ (very informal)
Often ‘speak’ and ‘talk’ can be used interchangeably to give the same meaning and there is no need to change the grammar of the sentence. For example:
- ‘I will speak/talk with you about this more on Monday.’
- ‘We can speak/talk about the new project next week.’
| Say | Tell | Speak | Talk |
| To speak about something , often reporting on what has been said. | To deliver information to someone. | To exchange information about something. (formal) | To exchange information about something. (informal) |
| We do not include an object e.g. Rosie said she was free this afternoon. | We include an object e.g. Rosie told me she was free this afternoon. | Can be used to cover languages. E.g Georgie speaks three language fluently. | Cannot be used to cover languages. E.g. Georgie talks three languages fluently. |
| Does not require a second person to engage with. | Does not require a second person to engage with. | Requires a second person to engage with. | Requires a second person to engage with. |
| E.g. I said I wasn’t going swimming tonight. | E.g. I told you before that I am not interested in you in that way. | E.g. Let’s speak about the class rules again before we continue. | E.g. We can talk about it more when you feel less angry. |
| Mostly interchangeable with tell. The grammatical structure must be altered. | Mostly interchangeable with say. The grammatical structure must be altered. | Mostly interchangeable with talk. The grammatical structure needn’t be altered. | Mostly interchangeable with speak. The grammatical structure needn’t be altered. |
| E.g. Richard said (that) he would be late home tonight. | E.g. Richard told me (that) he would be late home tonight. | E.g. We will speak about the plans for our summer holiday when I next see you. | E.g. We will talk about the plans for our summer holiday when I next see you. |
Common English expressions with say, tell, speak or talk
Expressions with SAY
Say something (= Say something to someone)
‘You have to say something to Stuart about his poor work ethic!’
About to say (= to almost say something before you are stopped by something/someone)
‘I was about to say thank you, before you interrupted me.’
Nothing to say (= to not have anything to say about a topic or a person, can be used when there has been bad feeling around the topic.)
‘After Jane ignored my opinion, I have nothing to say to her about future events.’
Want to say (= to feel you would like to say something to someone, but perhaps are unsure about doing so)
‘I want to say something to Fiona about her bad temper, but I’m a little afraid of her!’
Need to say (= to have to say something to someone, can be used to ensure the person is listening properly, can be used to convey urgency or importance before saying what you have to say)
‘Please listen carefully! I need to say something very important.’
Hate to say (= to give over information when it isn’t something that the speaker wants to say or that the listener wants to hear.)
‘I hate to say it, but James isn’t very good at managing our committee funds. We may need to look at recruiting a new treasurer.’
Fair to say (= to say something that is reasonable and measured on a topic)
‘It is fair to say that we are all very pleased with your work this month.’
Going to say (= to be about to say something before being beaten to it by another speaker)
– ‘Shall we go to a pub for lunch today as the weather is so nice?
– ‘Great idea! I was just going to say that myself.’
Anything to say (= to enquire as to whether the person you are talking with has something to say on the topic)
‘Now we have covered the entire training guide, does anyone have anything to say on what we have learnt so far?’
Say no more (= used when the speaker no longer wishes to talk about a topic, often used to put an end to a difficult conversation and move forward)
‘I’m sure you know how disappointed I am that you have not completed your homework again this week. Please finish your homework during break time and I will say no more about it.’
Say a few words (= a phrase used when you want to say something about someone/something, often used at the start of a short speech)
‘Before we sit down to enjoy the meal, I would like to say a few words about the bride and groom.’
Can say for sure/certain (= when the speaker is convinced that what they are saying is the truth)
‘I can say for sure that I saw Monica take money from the cash register and put it in her pocket’
Can’t say for sure/certain (= when the speaker is not convinced that what they are saying is the truth)
‘I can’t say for certain that Kieran helped Monica hide the money’
Might say (= when the speaker is not sure if they will say something or not in the future)
‘I might say something to my manager about the missing money, as I don’t want to be blamed for it.’
How can you say? (= when someone is in disbelief over something they have just heard)
‘How can you say such terrible things about your sister?’
People say (= to convey information about something which is commonly thought or said by a group of people, often used to spread rumours or untruths.)
‘People say if you break a mirror, you will get seven years of bad luck.’
Dare say (= to say something is probable or likely)
‘I dare say Lianna will be at the party as she has had a lot to do with organising it.’
Daren’t say (= to hold back on saying something in case the listener is unhappy with what has been said)
‘I daren’t say anything to Kiara about her dress being too small in case she gets upset.’
Allowed to say (= to be permitted to say something)
‘The great thing about our work meetings is that even the junior members are allowed to say what they think.’
Begin by saying (= to say something to start off, often used when addressing a crowd)
‘I will begin by saying that I am very proud of the pupils’ progress over the last ten weeks.’
Ought to say (= to think you should say something)
‘I ought to say to my neighbour that I can hear his shouting through the walls.’
Never say (= to state something that you would never say, often in case of causing offense or upsetting someone)
‘I would never say this to Amelia as she is so enthusiastic, but she really is a terrible singer!’
Rather not say (= to say what you would prefer to say instead of something else, hide the truth)
‘I’d rather not say Amelia is a poor singer because I don’t want to hurt her feelings.’
Expressions with TELL
Tell on someone (= to say to someone – usually in authority – something about one of their peers that would displease them)
‘I’m telling on you to the teacher for tripping Callum up!’ (informal)
Tell off (= to express unhappiness at someone’s actions, punish verbally)
‘I told Charlotte off for throwing her rubbish on the ground’
Tell about (= to share information about something that has happened or something that will happen in the future)
‘I need to tell you about what happened to me at the gym last night…’
Tell a story (= to read or relay a book/tale to someone)
‘Lie down and get ready for bed, and I’ll tell you a story.’
Tell a lie (= to say something that is not true)
‘I told a lie when I said I was working. I just didn’t want to go for a run with you!’
Tell the truth (= to say something that is true)
‘Of course you can trust me – I always tell the truth!’
Tell the future (= to explain what will happen at a later date)
‘No one can tell the future because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.’
Tell the time (= to read the time on a clock/watch)
‘Could you tell me the time, please?’
Tell to do something (= to instruct someone to carry out an instruction)I told you to take the bins out.’
Tell how (= to instruct someone on the way they should carry out a task)
‘Nikki, please tell Cameron how to set up the cake display.’
I am telling you (= often used to capture the attention of the intended listener, can be used to reaffirm an instruction that has already been given)
‘I am telling you to make your bed before you start playing with your toys!’
Tell a secret (= to share something with someone that should be kept confidential)
‘Let me tell you a secret I heard about Ellie, but you mustn’t let anyone else know!’
Tell a joke (= to share a joke with someone)
‘I can tell you a joke if you want to hear one?’
Tell the difference (= to identify characteristics that differ between two or more things/people)
‘Can you tell the difference between the twins? Millie has blue eyes and Lilly has green eyes.’
Tell someone’s name (= to let someone know what a person is called)
‘Could you tell the class your name and where you are from?’
Tell someone’s fortune (= to predict what will happen in someone’s life, often using tarot cards of palm reading)
‘Show me the palm of your hand and I will tell you your fortune!’
Should tell (= to know it is best that you tell someone something)
‘You should tell the teacher that you struggled to understand the last lesson. Maybe she can go over the grammar rules again with you.’
Need to tell (= to have to say something to someone, can be used to ensure the person is listening properly, can be used to convey urgency or importance before stating what you have to say)
‘I need to tell you what happened last night and I need you to listen very carefully.’
Never tell (= to promise not to say anything about something that has happened)
‘I promise that I will never tell anyone your secret. It’s safe with me!’
About to tell (= to almost say something before you are stopped by something/someone)
‘I was about to tell you what happened, before you took that phone call.’
Tell tales (= to pass on information to get another person into trouble, not always true stories)
‘Stop telling tales on your little brother! I know it wasn’t him who broke the door.’
Expressions with SPEAK
Speak up (= to have to say something louder in order to be heard)
‘You need to speak up so your great grandma can hear you. She’s a bit deaf!’
Speak out (= to voice a fact or view even though it may cause trouble, raise issues)
‘We have to speak out about the unsafe conditions at work before someone gets hurt.’
Speak down to (= to say something to someone in a manner which is condescending)
‘I think she speaks down to me because I’m just a shop assistant and she’s a manager.’
Speak on (= to say something about a topic or subject, often in a formal setting)
‘I would like to speak on the topic of personal hygiene in class today.’
Speak about (= to say something on a topic or subject with someone, often in a more relaxed setting than ‘speak on’)
‘I’d like to speak about our fundraising efforts at the next committee meeting.’
Speak in (= can be used to define what language is being spoken)
‘Multilingual people can speak in many languages.’
Speak to (= to verbally communicate with someone, quite formal)
‘I’d like to speak to you about your plans to continue as company treasurer next year.’
Speak of (= an expression used when you don’t want to talk about an issue or topic again)
‘You’ve been punished enough for taking my car without asking. We won’t speak of it again.’
Speak for (= an expression used when someone is saying something on another’s behalf)
‘I speak for all of us when I say your performance must improve over the next term.’
Speak out of turn (= to offer your opinion when it is not needed, welcome, or deemed appropriate)
‘Forgive me for speaking out of turn, as I know I am only here to take notes on the meeting, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to run a larger focus group before taking the product to market?’
Speak with (= to talk to someone about a topic, consult or get advice)
‘I’ll need to speak with my senior advisor before I can authorise a payment for such a large sum.’
Speaking terms (= in communication, being amicable, communicating but in a minimal way due to dislike or following an argument)
‘They haven’t been on speaking terms since John went for dinner with his ex-wife.’
So to speak (= used when quoting a figure of speech or describing something in an abstract way)
‘In John’s relationship with his wife she wears the trousers, so to speak.’
Speak the same language (= used when talking about two or more people or countries speaking the same language, have a good understanding or rapport)
‘People speak the same language in Portugal and Brazil, but with slight differences.’
‘When it comes to shopping, Jane and I speak the same language!’
Speak openly (= to talk about something without fear of what others may think, can often be on sensitive topics)
‘Liz speaks openly about her experiences as a single parent in the hope that she can inspire others.’
Speak one’s mind (= to say what you are thinking about, even if others may not want to hear it)
‘I know something has been troubling you. If you speak your mind, maybe I can help.’
Be spoken for (= to describe something/someone that has already been claimed by someone else)
‘Unfortunately, most of the flats in the new building have already been spoken for.’
Speak well of (= to have pleasant things to say about someone or something)
‘Your new supervisor speaks well of you.’
Speak ill of (= to have unpleasant things to say about someone or something)
‘You always speak ill of your father. Why is that?’
Speak up for (= to say something on someone’s behalf who may not have the authority to speak themselves or may feel afraid or shy to do so)
‘Henry is such a kind boy; he always speaks up for his classmate John, who has trouble with bullies.’
Speak volumes (= used to emphasise the importance of ones actions/inactions or words/lack of words)
‘The fact that the boss refuses to address the smoking policy speaks volumes about his lack of leadership.’
Speak highly of someone/something (= used when someone says very good things about someone or something)
‘The head teacher speaks highly of the work you have done as a volunteer at the school.
Expressions with TALK
Talk up (= used when someone praises someone/something, perhaps to promote)
‘I can’t talk up this new course book enough! It’s really interesting and has lots of great examples.’
Talk down (= used when someone is diminishing something they or someone else has done in fear of looking like they are showing off)
‘Don’t talk down the efforts you put into your essay. You should be very proud of the hard work you have put it.’
Talk out of (= used when you are trying to convince someone to change their mind about a bad idea they have)
‘I have tried to talk him out of skydiving, but he insists he wants to do it!’
Talk back (= to reply in a rude manner, often to voice opposition or question an order)
‘Don’t talk back to your mother! She has already told you to clean your room.’
Talk over (= to interrupt or speak when someone else is talking)
‘Please don’t talk over me! You’ll get your chance to speak next.’
Talk about (= to say something about something/someone)
‘We can talk about that in person at the next meeting’
Talk down to (= to say something to someone in a manner which is condescending)
‘She talks down to me because she thinks I don’t understand English very well.’
Talk to (= to say something to someone)
‘I will talk to you after class, but just now I am listening to the teacher.’
Talk on (= to talk about a certain subject or topic)
‘After my speech about sustainability, Arthur will talk on the ways we can achieve this in our daily lives.’
Talk with (= to have a conversation with someone about something/someone)
‘I need to talk with you about our latest essay. Are you finding it as difficult as I am?’
Talk around (= to indirectly talk about an issue that may be sensitive without addressing it directly)
‘At the meeting they talked around the issue of missing finances, but nothing was resolved.’
Idioms with SAY
Wouldn’t say boo to a goose (= used to describe someone who is very shy or timid)
‘Anne is very reserved and keeps to herself. She wouldn’t say boo to a goose!’
Do as I say, not as I do (= when someone has inconsistencies with their words and actions pointed out, often said by someone in authority)
‘It doesn’t matter if I went backpacking when I was your age. You’re not going! You will do as I say, not as I do.’
Does what it says on the tin (= used to imply that the information given on a product or situation is exactly as it seems)
‘This radiator paint does exactly what it says on the tin.’
Can’t say fairer than that (= used when a solution to a disagreement has been found that should suit both parties)
‘If you are going to take three cigarette breaks a day, then I expect you to arrive at work fifteen minutes early. You can’t say fairer than that.’
Idioms with TELL
Time will tell (= used when the outcome of an issue will not be known for a period of time)
‘Who knows if Sarah will be happier with Steve? Only time will tell!’
Tell someone where to get off (= angrily dismiss or rebuke someone)
‘If Rob cancels your next date, you should tell him where to get off!’
Tell it how it is (= to state something directly or bluntly)
‘Susan is very passionate about human rights issues. She always tells it how it is.’
Live to tell the tale (= used when recounting a dangerous story that all turned out well in the end)
‘My dad spent the war in a concentration camp, but lived to tell the tale.’
You can’t tell a book by its cover (= used to express the idea that it isn’t possible to judge someone or something just based on superficial features or initial impressions)
‘I was surprised that Edward was so laid back at the party because he always looks so formal. Just goes to show you can’t tell a book by its cover!’
Idioms with SPEAK
Speak of the devil (= the shorter, more commonly used form of the idiom ‘speak of the devil and he shall appear’, used when someone unexpectedly appears when or shortly after people have been talking about them)
‘Hi Kirsty! Speak of the devil! Mary and I were just talking about you.’
Actions speak louder than words (= used to when you don’t entirely believe what a person is saying and are waiting for further evidence through actions)
‘He’s promised not to be back late after work tonight, but he’s said that plenty of times before and hasn’t. I think actions speak louder than words!’
Don’t speak too soon (= used when someone promises something prematurely that may not then happen)
‘Our team have almost won the league with three games to go, but don’t speak too soon!’
Speak a mile a minute (= used to describe when someone speaks very fast, often so fast it is difficult to understand)
‘June was so excited to tell us her news that she was speaking a mile a minute.’
Idioms with TALK
Talk in riddles (= to speak in a confusing manner, sometimes intentionally so you don’t understand the meaning)
‘Cassie often talks in riddles and I walk away without really understanding what has been said.’
All talk and no trousers (= a phrase used to describe when someone talks a lot about doing something but doesn’t take any or as much action as they say they would)
‘Craig spoke for a long time about his plans to go backpacking, yet he is still here two years later! I get the impression he is all talk and no trousers.’
Talk the hind legs off a donkey (= used to describe someone who talks a lot about a topic, can be about boring chatterbox or windbag)
‘Let’s cross the street before Betty sees us! We have to get to the train station on time and she’ll make us late. She really can talk the hind legs off a donkey!’
Money talks (= used to describe the influence money can have over someone’s decision-making process and achieve a desirable outcome for the person with the most money)
‘I know our business plan is better than theirs, but our budget is much smaller, and we all know money talks.’
Sweet talk (= describes a way of using flattery to convince someone to do something your way)
‘Melissa can usually sweet talk Mike into getting her own way. He finds it difficult to say no to someone he likes.’
Practice exercises: differences between say, tell, speak and talk
Exercise A
Insert the words say/tell/speak/talk into the blank spaces in the sentences below. Remember to use the correct form of the verb to match the context.
- Can you remember what I ________ to you about chewing gum in class?
- Let me ________ you again in case you didn’t hear the first time.
- John, I’d like to ______ with you tomorrow about the upcoming presentation.
- It’ll be very formal and you’ll be __________ in front of 2,000 people.
- Could you ______ Lisa that I need to see her in my office please?
- What did you ______ to Lisa? She seemed rather embarrassed.
- If you’re upset, you can _______ to me (about your problems) anytime.
- Paolo ________ to the group – first in English, then in Italian.
- We have both tried to ______ Derek out of quitting his job, but he insists he’s doing the right thing.
- Could you please _______ me the deadline for my visa application?
Exercise B
Use a suitable idiom with ‘tell’ in each of the blank spaces below.
- My neighbour got bitten by a shark while on holiday, but he __________.
- I don’t think their relationship will last, but I guess __________.
- You __________! Steve may look stupid, but he’d got a PhD in Astro Physics!
- You need to be honest with your boss about the problems at work. Just __________!
- John said I had ugly legs, so I __________!
Check your answers:
Exercise A: 1. Said, 2. Tell, 3. Speak/Talk, 4. Speaking, 5.Tell, 6. Say, 7. Talk, 8. Spoke, 9. Talk 10. Tell.
Exercise B: 1. lived to tell the tale, 2. time will tell, 3. can’t tell a book by its cover, 4. tell it how it is, 5. told him where to get off.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Katie C.
— Staff Writer.
Find this post useful? Share it with friends!
Read more
-
-
Difference Between: Anyway vs. Any Way
Anyway (one word) is an adverb that means ‘in any case’ – e.g. It started to rain, but the family went to the beach anyway. Any way (two words) is a phrase that means ‘in any manner’ – e.g. The mechanic tried to start the car any way possible. Continue reading →
-
Adverbs of Place: Full List with Examples & Exercises
Adverbs of place tell us where something happens. This group includes adverbs of direction such as up and south, adverbs of movement and direction like upwards and forwards, and adverbs of location such as outside and behind. In this study guide, we will walk you through a range of adverbs of place with examples of how to use each of them. Let’s learn! Continue reading →
-
Hi dear English learners! Some people think that learning expressions such as collocations, phrasal verbs and idioms is not as important as learning grammar and vocabulary. They try to adopt new words and phrases from books, movies, series and videos on YouTube. It is not a bad idea, to be honest, but let me tell you that you have to know much more than that to avoid awkward situations in which you don’t understand native speakers because they use collocations, idioms and phrasal verbs in their speech. So, when you learn a language you definitely need to dive deeper into the meanings of words and phrases and learn which words they collocate with, the idioms and phrasal verbs they form. It is very important. In that regard, we are going to look at 20 ways to use the verb tell.
20 ways to use the verb tell
Meanings of the verb TELL
Let’s look at the different meanings of the verb tell
1. to give information.
- When we met yesterday, Mary told me all about her holiday.
- Even though it wasn’t easy, the witness tried to tell every detail of the crime.
2. to give an order or strong advice.
- Haven’t I told you to do your homework?
- I am telling you, that job is not for you.
3. to differentiate
- I find it so difficult to tell the difference between Amanda and her twin sister sometimes
- The problem is that he can’t tell right from wrong.
4. to fail to keep a secret.
- Will you promise not to tell anyone?
- I can’t believe that Mark told everyone what was supposed to be a secret.
5. to narrate.
- The children listened attentively when grandpa told them the story.
- When Daen told us a joke we all fell about laughing.
20 ways to use the verb tell
Collocations with TELL
I can tell you
Use the collocation to emphasise that what you’re saying is the truth.
- I can tell you that being married to a rock star is not so easy as it seems.
- Scotland may be a cold country in the wintertime, but I can tell you there is no better place in the world during the summer months.
To tell the truth
Use it to say how you really feel about something.
- To tell you the truth, I haven’t expected such a welcoming gesture.
- I’m not very fond of watching TV, to tell the truth.
Tell the time
If you tell the time, you say what time it is.
- Can you believe that our four-year-old can tell the time already?
- I’m sure that this clock tells the time accurately.
I told you so
Use it to say that what you had said or predicted was proved to be right.
- If I tell my mum that I lost money on that app, I know she’ll say – I told you so!
- They took that corrupted politician to court. I told you so!
20 ways to use the verb tell
You can never tell
Use it to say that it is hardly possible to be sure about something.
- You can never tell how the customers will react to the new product.
- The rain doesn’t seem to stop soon. You can never tell, though. We might still go on that picnic tomorrow.
Something tells me
Use it to say that you have a feeling about something.
- I could give it a try because something tells me I won’t regret it.
- You know, something tells me that Rob is not telling us the truth.
Tell yourself
Use it to make yourself think about something in order to persuade yourself that it is true.
- Whenever I feel nervous about an exam, I tell myself that I’ll pass it.
- When you start thinking about food late at night, just tell yourself to stop.
Phrasal verbs with TELL
Tell against
If something tells against you, then it is your disadvantage
- Her broken English told against her at the job interview.
- All the evidence told against the robbers.
Tell apart
To tell apart means to be able to differentiate between two similar things or people.
- If your brother wasn’t taller than you, I couldn’t tell you apart.
- Some of their paintings are so similar that it’s very difficult to tell them apart.
Tell of
To tell of means to talk about something.
- The old man lived long enough to tell of the horrors of war.
- When he visited us last weekend, Michael told us of his journey to China.
Also: to indicate.
- Although she wasn’t very old, her wrinkled face told of her hard life.
- The old castle told of the history of the town.
20 ways to use the verb tell
Tell off
To tell off means to criticise or reprimand someone.
- Mr Brown told Fiona off for being late again.
- The soldier was told off because he was improperly dressed.
Tell on
If something tells on someone or something, then it has a bad influence on them/it.
- Poor diet began to tell on her health.
- Insomnia started to tell on him so his private life was suffering.
Also: to tell a person in authority about someone’s bad behaviour.
- Please, promise not to tell on me about the broken window.
- If you tell on me I’ll find ways to make your life miserable.
20 ways to use the verb tell
Idioms with TELL
(Only) time will tell
The idiom is used to say that only later in the future we will know the truth about something.
- Only time will tell whether it was the right thing to do.
- No one can predict how the product will cope with the market. Only time will tell, so be patient.
Tell its own tale/story
If something tells its own tale or story, then it clearly shows the truth about something.
- Sara said that she wouldn’t mind sleeping on the sofa, but her face told its own story.
- Although the police said there was no evidence of burglary, broken glass in front of the jewellery store told its own story.
Kiss-and-tell
This expression refers to a person who publicly reveals details about an affair they had with someone.
- Lorna did a kiss-and-tell interview for a music magazine about her relationship with the drummer of a famous band.
- She regretted seeing him because he was a kiss-and-tell kind of person.
20 ways to use the verb tell
Live to tell the tale
When someone survives something difficult or dangerous we can say that they live to tell the tale, which means that they can talk about their experience to others.
- Simona survived a horrible traffic accident and lived to tell the tale.
- Unfortunately, the victims of an air crash didn’t live to tell the tale.
Tell someone where to get off
Use this expression to tell someone that you won’t tolerate their bad behaviour anymore.
- If my boyfriend ever told me that, I would tell him where to get off.
- I’ll tell you where to get off if you ever call me again!
20 ways to use the verb tell
A little bird told me
Use the expression to say that you have your source of information but you don’t want to reveal it.
- “How do you know that Tom and Tara have broken up?” “A little bird told me.“
- A little bird told me that you’ve got a new boyfriend.
If you really want to learn English but don’t know how to do it and where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation. Choose the most suitable app: Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, Viber or Facebook Messenger. You should certainly join us for 30-minute conversation sessions. Check it out!
|
Collocations for «tell»Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word «tell» in context. WordReference English Collocations © 2023 tellⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK. v
‘tell‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): |
|
Collocations with TELL! Below is the list of common collocations with the verb TELL in English that you should learn.
Tell Collocations List
Here is the list of collocations with the word TELL in English:
- Tell a joke
- Tell a lie
- Tell a story
- Tell the truth
- Tell a secret
- Tell the difference
- Tell somebody one’s name
- Tell the time
- Tell someone’s fortune
Collocations with Tell with Examples
- Tell a joke
You’re good at telling jokes.
- Tell a lie
We can not tell a lie, so we confessed we were getting way too many.
- Tell a story
Anna has always been very good at telling stories.
- Tell the truth
They must learn how to tell the truth and listen.
- Tell a secret
Tell me your secret. I won’t tell anyone.
- Tell the difference
They’re so alike. I can’t tell the difference!
- Tell somebody one’s name
The boy refused tell me his name.
- Tell the time
Your watch should tell the time accurately.
- Tell someone’s fortune
An old lady told me my fortune.
Common Collocations with TELL | Image
