Idioms and Phrasal Verbs with "Tell"

This article is a continuation of our series on phrasal verbs, and this time, we're focusing on the different ways you can use "tell."

Compared to some other words we've looked at, there aren't many phrasal verbs with "tell," but it is common in many English idioms, which we'll explore below. After reading this article, practice using them yourself in a conversation with an Engoo tutor!

Phrasal Verbs With “Tell”

Tell on (someone)

"Telling on" someone means revealing to others that they've done something bad or against the rules. This phrasal verb is mostly used by children.

Everyone in class knew that Johnny threw the paper airplane, but no one told on him.

Sometimes this usage is shortened to only "tell."

How did the teacher know it was me who threw the airplane? Who told?

Tell of

"Telling of" something is talking about it, often in detail. This phrasal verb sounds a bit formal and isn't very common in most daily conversations.

The book tells of the author's incredible life story, filled with adventure and surprises.

Tell off

"Telling someone off" means scolding or yelling at them, usually because they've done something wrong.

The boss told me off for missing my sales targets.

Common Phrases With “Tell”

Tell the difference

Meaning: to understand what makes things different from one another

This phrase is often shortened to just "tell" when used casually.

Sam said he lost weight, but no one can tell (the difference).

I could tell right away that Aya's English was much better than it was last year.

Tell time

Meaning: to understand what time it is by looking at the hands on a clock

My young son recently learned how to tell time. Now he doesn't have to rely on digital clocks.

Tell a lie

Meaning: to say something that isn't true

His mother punished him for telling a lie.

Tell the truth

Meaning: to say something that is true

Remember that "the" always comes before "truth."

Everyone believed that he was telling the truth.

Tell a joke

Meaning: to say something funny, usually in the form of a story

Sarah told a joke that made everyone cry with laughter.

Tell a story

Meaning: to create a story from your imagination and tell it to others, usually without preparation

My children asked me to tell them a story before bed, so I made one up just then.

Other Expressions With “Tell”

“You’re telling me!”

This expression is used when the speaker has been told something that they already know or strongly agree with. It's a casual phrase, so it should only be used with people you have a close, friendly relationship with.

Truth be told

This is another way to say "honestly." It's often used to introduce information that is surprising or unexpected.

Truth be told, even after years of performing, I still get nervous before every show.

You can also say "To tell (you) the truth," which has the same meaning.

To tell you the truth, I don't actually like the food there.

As far as I can tell

Use this phrase before or after a statement that you believe is correct based on the information that you have. Think of it as an alternative to "it seems."

As far as I can tell, the whole building is empty.

She doesn't have a boyfriend, as far as I can tell.

(There is) No telling

Use this to talk about a possibility that you cannot predict or know. It's used together with the question words "who," "what," "where" and "how."

There's no telling how many people will come, so we should prepare for a large number, just in case.

There's no telling what he'll say next.

In casual conversations, you can use it as a response to a question. In this usage, it's shortened to simply "No telling."

Wrap-up

From jokes and lies to stories and differences, "tell" is useful in a variety of ways. Look for chances to use them in your next English conversation and come back to this article for a reference whenever you need a reminder.

And don't forget to check out the rest of our series on these short but powerful words.