tell on
phrasal verb
told on; telling on; tells on
1
informal
: to tell someone in authority about the bad behavior or actions of (someone else)
Please don't tell on me.
2
: to have a noticeable effect on (someone or something)
The stress began to tell on her face/health.
Examples of tell on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like the Irish, Italians, Germans and others who had their stories told on Broadway back in the day.
—
Marjorie García, Billboard, 26 June 2025
Led by two visionary filmmakers Asha Lovelace and Melanie Jones Powell , the Caribbean Film Festival shifts power behind the lens—ensuring Caribbean stories are told on their own terms.
—Essence, 20 June 2025
Gavin Sheets having one more outfield assist than Fernando Tatis Jr. is telling on two different fronts.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
This isn’t the first time Grandin’s story has been told on screen.
—Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell on
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Marjorie García, Billboard, 26 June 2025
Led by two visionary filmmakers Asha Lovelace and Melanie Jones Powell , the Caribbean Film Festival shifts power behind the lens—ensuring Caribbean stories are told on their own terms.
—Essence, 20 June 2025
Gavin Sheets having one more outfield assist than Fernando Tatis Jr. is telling on two different fronts.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
This isn’t the first time Grandin’s story has been told on screen.
—Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell on
Cite this Entry
“Tell on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20on. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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