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
The rhetoric has even begun to filter into how stories might be told on screen.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
The company combines these elements to tell on stage narratives of struggle and perseverance while honoring heritage.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026
The physical toll being put on the mainstays in the squad looked to be telling on some.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Media Research Center, a conservative watchdog group which is part-funded by Republican donor Robert Mercer, clocked that 92% of jokes told on the six nightly late-night shows were aimed at conservatives.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell on
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Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
The company combines these elements to tell on stage narratives of struggle and perseverance while honoring heritage.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026
The physical toll being put on the mainstays in the squad looked to be telling on some.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Media Research Center, a conservative watchdog group which is part-funded by Republican donor Robert Mercer, clocked that 92% of jokes told on the six nightly late-night shows were aimed at conservatives.
—Peter White, Deadline, 23 Dec. 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 26 Jan. 2026.
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