tell
verb
tel 
tel təʊld toʊld give information
1 [transitive] (of a person) to give information to somebody by speaking or writingtell something to somebody He told the news to everybody he saw.tell somebody something He told everybody he saw the news.Did she tell you her name?What did I tell you? (= you should have listened to my advice)tell somebody (about something) Why wasn't I told about the accident?tell somebody/yourself (that)… They've told us (that) they're not coming.I kept telling myself (that) everything was OK.Are you telling me you didn't have any help with this? (= I don't believe what you have said)tell somebody where, what, etc… Tell me where you live.tell somebody + speech ‘I'm ready to go now,’ he told her.2 [transitive] (of some writing, an instrument, a sign, etc.) to give information about somethingtell somebody something The advertisement told us very little about the product.tell somebody how, where, etc… This gauge tells you how much fuel you have left.tell somebody (that)… The sound of his breathing told her (that) he was asleep.express in words
3 [transitive] to express something in wordstell something to tell stories/jokes/liesAre you sure you're telling the truth?tell somebody how, what, etc… I can't tell you how happy I am.secret
4 [intransitive] (informal) to let somebody know a secretPromise you won't tell.‘Who are you going out with tonight?’ ‘That would be telling!’ (= it's a secret)order
5 [transitive] to order or advise somebody to do somethingtell somebody/yourself to do something He was told to sit down and wait.There was a sign telling motorists to slow down.I kept telling myself to keep calm.tell somebody something Do what I tell you.tell somebody Children must do as they're told.tell somebody what, when, etc… Don't tell me what to do!tell somebody (that)… The doctor told me (that) I should eat less fat.know/judge
6 [intransitive, transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to know, see or judge something correctlyI think he's happy. It's hard to tell.As far as I can tell, she's enjoying the course.tell (that)… I could tell (that) he was angry from his expression.tell how, if, etc… ‘That's not an original.’ ‘How can you tell?’The only way to tell if you like something is by trying it.distinguish
7 [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses or in the passive) to distinguish one thing or person from anothertell something It was hard to tell the difference between the two versions.tell A from B Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?tell A and B apart It's difficult to tell them apart.tell which, what, etc… The kittens look exactly alike—how can you tell which is which?have effect
8 [intransitive] tell (on somebody) to have an effect on somebody/something, especially a bad oneThe strain was beginning to tell on the rescue team.Idioms
all told
with all people, etc. counted and included
There are 52 people coming, all told.don't tell me
(informal) used to say that you know or can guess what somebody is going to say, especially because it is typical of themDon't tell me you were late again!I/I'll tell you what
(informal) used to introduce a suggestionI'll tell you what—let's stay in instead.I tell you
|I can tell you
|I'm telling you
(informal) used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when it is surprising or difficult to believeIt isn't cheap, I can tell you!I'm telling you, that's exactly what she said.I told you (so)
(informal) used when something bad has happened, to remind somebody that you warned them about it and they did not listen to youlive, etc. to tell the tale
to survive a difficult or dangerous experience so that you can tell others what really happened
tell a different story/tale
to give some information that is different from what you expect or have been told
tell its own tale/story
to explain itself, without needing any further explanation or comment
Her face told its own story.tell me
(informal) used to introduce a questionTell me, have you had lunch yet?tell me about it
(informal) used to say that you understand what somebody is talking about and have had the same experience‘I get so annoyed with Steve!’ ‘Tell me about it. He drives me crazy.’tell me another!
(informal) used to tell somebody that you do not believe what they have saidtell tales (about something/on somebody)
(British English) to tell somebody about something that another person has done wrong related noun telltaletell the time
(British English) (North American English tell time) to read the time from a clock, etcShe's only five—she hasn't learnt to tell the time yet.tell somebody where to get off/where they can get off
(British English, informal) to make it clear to somebody that you will no longer accept their bad behaviourtell somebody where to put/stick something
|tell somebody what they can do with something
(informal) to make it clear to somebody that you are angry and are rejecting what they are offering youthere's no telling
used to say that it is impossible to know what happened or will happen
There's no telling how they'll react.to tell (you) the truth
(informal) used when admitting somethingTo tell the truth, I fell asleep in the middle of her talk.you can never tell
|you never can tell
(saying) you can never be sure, for example because things are not always what they appear to beyou're telling me!
(informal) I completely agree with youPhrasal verbs
tell against somebody
(British English, formal) to be a disadvantage to somebodyHer lack of experience told against her.tell of something
(formal or literary) to make something known; to give an account of somethingnotices telling of the proposed job cutstell somebody 
off (for something/for doing something)
(informal) to speak angrily to somebody for doing something wrongSynonym
scoldI told the boys off for making so much noise.Did you get told off? related noun telling-offtell on somebody
(informal) to tell a person in authority about something bad that somebody has donePromise not to tell on me!
Usage note: ordertell instruct direct commandThese words all mean to use your position of authority to say to somebody that they must do something.order to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something: The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employee. ◇ ‘Come here at once!’ she ordered.tell to say to somebody that they must or should do something: He was told to sit down and wait. ◇ Don't tell me what to do!instruct (rather formal) to tell somebody to do something, especially in a formal or official way: The letter instructed him to report to headquarters immediately.direct (formal) to give an official order: The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.command to use your position of authority to tell somebody to do something: He commanded his men to retreat.order or command?Order is a more general word than command and can be used about anyone in a position of authority, such as a parent, teacher or government telling somebody to do something. Command is slightly stronger than order and is the normal word to use about an army officer giving orders, or in any context where it is normal to give orders without any discussion about them. It is less likely to be used about a parent or teacher.to order/tell/instruct/direct/command somebody to do somethingto order/instruct/direct/command that…to do something as ordered/told/instructed/directed/commandedUsage note: say / tellSay never has a person as the object. You say something or say something to somebody. Say is often used when you are giving somebody’s exact words: ‘Sit down’, she said. ◇ Anne said, ‘I’m tired.’ ◇ Anne said (that) she was tired. ◇ What did he say to you? You cannot use ‘say about’, but say something about is correct: I want to say something /a few words /a little about my family. Say can also be used with a clause when the person you are talking to is not mentioned: She didn’t say what she intended to do.Tell usually has a person as the object and often has two objects: Have you told him the news yet? It is often used with ‘that’ clauses: Anne told me (that) she was tired. Tell is usually used when somebody is giving facts or information, often with what, where, etc: Can you tell me when the movie starts? (BUT: Can you give me some information about the school?) Tell is also used when you are giving somebody instructions: The doctor told me to stay in bed. ◇ The doctor told me (that) I had to stay in bed. OR The doctor said (that) I had to stay in bed. NOT The doctor said me to stay in bed.