tell against
phrasal verb
told against; telling against; tells against
British, formal
: to be a disadvantage to (someone)
His unkempt appearance is bound to tell against him in court.
Cite this Entry
“Tell against.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20against. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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