- reporting verb communicate information, facts, or news to someone in spoken or written words对…讲, 与…说; 告诉, 告知：
with obj. and clause I told her you were coming我跟她说你要来
with obj. and direct speech 'We have nothing in common,' she told him她对他说：“我们俩没有任何共同点。”
with obj. he's telling the truth他在说实话
with two objs we must be told the facts.我们必须获知真相。
- with obj. and infinitive order, instruct, or advise someone to do something命令, 指示, 吩咐：
tell him to go away.
让他走开。
- with obj. narrate or relate (a tale or story)讲, 叙述（故事）。
- with obj. reveal information to (someone) in a non-verbal way显露, 显示：
the figures tell a different story
数字显示的情况不同
with two objs the smile on her face told him everything.她脸上的微笑向他说明了一切。
- no obj. divulge confidential or private information泄密; 泄露：
promise you won't tell.
你保证不泄密。
- no obj.
tell on
informal inform someone of the misdemeanours of〈非正式〉告发： friends don't tell on each other.
是朋友就不会互相告发。
- with clause decide or determine correctly or with certainty断定; 判断：
you can tell they're in love.
你可以断定他们在恋爱。
- with obj. and adverbial distinguish one person or thing from another; perceive the difference between one person or thing and another区别, 辨别, 分辨, 识别：
I can't tell the difference between margarine and butter.
我无法区分人造奶油和黄油。
- no obj.(of an experience or period of time) have a noticeable, typically harmful, effect on someone产生（不良）效果, 发生（负面）影响：
the strain of supporting the family was beginning to tell on him.
养家糊口的重负开始让他吃不消了。
- (of a particular factor) play a part in the success or otherwise of someone or something（某种因素）影响, 起作用：
lack of fitness told against him on his first run of the season.
身体欠佳影响了他在赛季中的第一次赛跑。
- with obj. archaic count (the members of a series or group)〈古〉数, 计算：
the shepherd had told all his sheep.
牧羊人清点了所有的羊。
- (especially in poker) an unconscious action that is thought to betray an attempted deception（尤作纸牌用语）（泄露试图作弊的）不经意动作。
as far as one can tell
- judging from the available information根据现有的消息来判断。
I tell you （或I can tell you）
- used to emphasize a statement我可以肯定地说, 确实：
that took me by surprise, I can tell you!
确实, 那使我深感意外！
I（或I'll）tell you what
- used to introduce a suggestion我的主张（或意见、建议）是; 你听我说：
I tell you what, why don't we meet for lunch tomorrow?
你听我说, 为什么明天我们不碰头一块儿吃午餐呢？
I told you (so)
- used as a way of pointing out that one's warnings, although ignored, have been proved to be well founded我早跟你说过的。
tell one's beads
- 见BEAD.
tell someone's fortune
- 见FORTUNE.
tell it like it is
- informal describe the true facts of a situation no matter how unpleasant they may be〈非正式〉如实说来, 实事求是地说, 说实话。
tell its own tale（或story）
- be significant or revealing, without any further explanation or comment being necessary不言而喻, 显而易见, 不言自明：
the worried expression on Helen's face told its own tale.
海伦脸上焦急的表情不言而喻。
tell me about it
- informal used as an ironic acknowledgement of one's familiarity with a difficult or unpleasant situation or experience described by someone else〈非正式〉我早知道了; 还用你告诉我。
tell me another
- informal used as an expression of disbelief or incredulity〈非正式〉不见得吧; 我不相信; 哪有这种事, 别胡说。
tell something a mile off
- 见MILE.
tell tales
- make known or gossip about another person's secrets, wrongdoings, or faults讲…的坏话; 搬弄是非。
tell that to the marines
- 见MARINE.
tell the time（或〈美〉tell time）
- be able to ascertain the time from reading the face of a clock or watch会认钟, 会看钟点。
tell someone where to get off （或where they get off）
- informal angrily dismiss or rebuke someone〈非正式〉严厉斥责, 使碰一鼻子灰; 叫…不要自以为了不起。
tell someone where to put（或what to do with） something
- informal angrily or emphatically reject something〈非正式〉断然拒绝, 一口回绝：
I told him what he could do with his diamond.
我断然拒绝他的钻石。
that would be telling
- informal used to convey that one is not prepared to divulge secret or confidential information〈非正式〉不走露风声; 不泄密。
there is no telling
- used to convey the impossibility of knowing what has happened or will happen不可知道; 很难知道：
there's no telling how she will react.
无法知道她的反应将会怎样。
to tell (you) the truth
- used as a preface to a confession or admission of something说实话, 实话告诉（你）吧：
to tell you the truth, he gave me the creeps.
说实话, 他让我紧张不安。
you're telling me
- informal used to emphasize that one is already well aware of something or in complete agreement with a statement〈非正式〉还要你告诉我; 我早就知道了; 我完全同意。
tellable
adjectivetell someone off
- informal reprimand or scold someone〈非正式〉数落, 责备：
my parents told me off for coming home late.
父母责备我回家迟了。
- archaic assign a member of a group to a particular task〈古〉分派, 分遣, 指派：
there used to be a chap told off every day to fetch us beer.
以前专门有个小伙子每天来为我们送啤酒。