tell

Less common meanings

6. 6
   report (child)verbchildishintransitive

   In children's talk, to report someone's bad behavior to an adult.

   I saw you take that candy, and I'm telling!

   Don't tell, or you're in trouble too.

   UsageUse tell on for the person: he told on me.

   Similartattle, snitch, squeal, sneak

   Note
7. 7
   body signalnouncountable

   A habit, as in poker, that shows what a person is trying to hide.

   His tell was a twitch whenever he bluffed.

   A good player hides every tell.

   Similargiveaway

8. 8
   take effectverbintransitive

   To have a clear effect that people can notice.

   The long hours were beginning to tell on her.

   Their extra fitness told in the second half.

   UsageHere tell on someone means affect them badly in a way people notice, not report them to a teacher.

   Similarcount, weigh, show

   Note
9. 9
   count upverbtransitive

   To count, now used only in a few fixed phrases.

   All told, there were more than a dozen.

   Each evening my grandmother would sit quietly and tell her beads.

   UsageUse all told to mean “in total”.

   Similarcount

   Note
10. 10
    nounarchaic

    A story that someone shares about what happened.

    Note
11. 11
    nouncolloquialcountable

    A sign that shows by accident something that was meant to stay hidden.

    The wrong date on the old letter was the tell that it was fake.

    His expensive new car was a tell that he had more money than he said.

    Similargiveaway, clue

    Note
12. 12
    verb

    In writing, to state things plainly instead of showing them through scenes and details.
13. 13
    noun

    In a chat room, a private message to one person, a whisper.
14. 14
    noun

    In archaeology, a mound made of the ruins of ancient towns, mostly in the Middle East.