I Told Telling Information Tel Time Give Interesting

• he told the news to everybody he saw.
• 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

Verb Forms

1. to give information to somebody by speaking or writing
• He told the news to everybody he saw.
• 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)
• ‘Come closer,’ she said, ‘I want to tell you something’.
• Why wasn't I told about the accident?
• They’ve told us (that) they’re not coming.
• I told him straight (= in a direct way) that I wasn't voting for him.
• He later told the court that he had returned the money.
• 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 me where you live.
• ‘I'm ready to go now,’ he told her.
• 'We hope that there will be some progress,' he told reporters.

Extra Examples

• I tried to tell them but they wouldn't let me.
• I was going to tell you—I just didn't get around to it.
• I hate to tell you this but I've broken your phone.
• I never told him about the money.
• No one had told her of the dangers.
• She told me bluntly it was my own fault.
• Did anyone tell you what happened?
• The government refused to tell them anything about its investigation.
2. to give information about something
• The advertisement told us very little about the product.
• This gauge tells you how much fuel you have left.
• The sound of his breathing told her (that) he was asleep.
3. to express something in words
• to tell stories/jokes/lies
• Are you sure you're telling the truth?
• I can't tell you how happy I am.
• We'd go fishing and she'd tell me stories.
• All of them had an interesting story to tell.

Extra Examples

• He told the story to all his friends.
• She is always telling lies.
4. to let somebody know a secret
• Promise you won't tell.
• ‘Who are you going out with tonight?’ ‘That would be telling!’ (= it's a secret)
5. to order or advise somebody 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.
• I specifically told you to be here on time.
• Do what I tell you.
• Children must do as they're told.
• Don't tell me what to do!
• The doctor told me (that) I should eat less fat.
6. to know, see or judge something correctly
• I think he's happy. It's hard to tell.
• As far as I can tell, she's enjoying the course.
• ‘That's not an original.’ ‘How can you tell?’
• I could tell (that) he was angry from his expression.
• The only way to tell if you like something is by trying it.
• It's too early to tell how popular this service will be.
• It's impossible to tell exactly where the problem is.
7. to recognize the difference between one thing or person and another
• It was hard to tell the difference between the two versions.
• Can you tell Tom from his twin brother?
• Can you tell this copy from the original?
• It's difficult to tell them apart.
• The kittens look exactly alike—how can you tell which is which?
• I couldn't tell who was meant to be the chairman.
8. to have an effect on somebody/something, especially a bad one
• The strain was beginning to tell on the rescue team.
9. with all people, etc. counted and included
• There are 52 people coming, all told.
10. used to say that you know or can guess what somebody is going to say, especially because it is typical of them
• Don't tell me you were late again!
11. to hear people talking about something
• I've often heard tell of such things.
12. used to tell somebody the true facts about a situation, especially when these are not known by other people
• If the truth be known, I was afraid to tell anyone.
13. used to say that something you have just said is not true or correct
• We first met in 2006, no, I tell a lie, it was 2007.
14. used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when it is surprising or difficult to believe
• It isn't cheap, I can tell you!
• I'm telling you, that's exactly what she said.
15. used to introduce a suggestion
• I'll tell you what—let's stay in instead.
16. used when something bad has happened, to remind somebody that you warned them about it and they did not listen to you
17. a way of referring to somebody talking publicly, usually for money, about a past sexual relationship with somebody famous
18. to know/tell somebody some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something
• She's been married five times, so she knows a thing or two about men!
19. used to say that somebody told you something but you do not want to say who it was
20. to survive a difficult or dangerous experience so that you can tell others what really happened
21. to give some information that is different from what you expect or have been told
• These drugs are widely believed to be effective medications. The data, however, tell a different story.
22. used to introduce a question
• Tell me, have you had lunch yet?
23. 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.’
24. used to tell somebody that you do not believe what they have said
25. to explain itself, without needing any further explanation or comment
• Her face told its own story.
26. to tell somebody about something that another person has done wrong
• RELATED NOUN telltale
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/telltale_1
27. to tell somebody/know some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something
• After winning several Oscars, Nick Park can tell you a thing or two about making animated films.
28. to read the time from a clock, etc.
• She's only five—she hasn't learnt to tell the time yet.
29. to make it clear to somebody that you will no longer accept their bad behaviour
30. to make it clear to somebody that you are angry and are rejecting what they are offering you
31. used to say that it is impossible to know what happened or will happen
• There's no telling how they'll react.
32. used to say that you will have to wait for some time to find out the result of a situation
• Only time will tell if the treatment has been successful.
33. used when admitting something
• To tell the truth, I fell asleep in the middle of her talk.
34. you can never be sure, for example because things are not always what they appear to be
35. I completely agree with you

Word Origin

• Old English tellan ‘relate, count, estimate’, of Germanic origin; related to German zählen ‘reckon, count’, erzählen ‘recount, relate’, also to tale.