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
This isn’t the first time Grandin’s story has been told on screen.
—
Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 5 June 2025
She was told on a video conference call that her FAA career was over.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 4 June 2025
However, The Mercury News reported that the commission was told on Wednesday that the project had yet to obtain the key permits required to begin construction, had not secured the necessary water rights, and had completed just 30 percent of the design.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Her story has never been told on the screen and is one that deserves to be seen by audiences around the world.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell on
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Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 5 June 2025
She was told on a video conference call that her FAA career was over.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 4 June 2025
However, The Mercury News reported that the commission was told on Wednesday that the project had yet to obtain the key permits required to begin construction, had not secured the necessary water rights, and had completed just 30 percent of the design.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Her story has never been told on the screen and is one that deserves to be seen by audiences around the world.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 23 Apr. 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 14 Jun. 2025.
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