tell
verb
tel verb
1
COMMUNICATE STH
交流某事
if someone tells you something, they communicate information, a story, their feelings etc to you 告诉，告知; 说，讲 T
tell sb (that)
I wish someone had told me the meeting was canceled.
要是有人告诉过我会议取消了就好了。
The Chief of Police told reporters that two people were killed in the blast.
警察局长告诉记者有两个人在爆炸中丧生。
tell sb what/how/where/who etc
Jack had to go, but he didn’t tell me why.
杰克一定要走，但他没有告诉我为什么。
I think you’d better tell me exactly what’s been going on around here.
我想你最好实话告诉我这儿都发生了什么。
tell sb about sth
No one had told them about the drug’s side effects.
没人告诉过他们这种药品的副作用。
I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.
我回来再告诉你这一切。
tell sb sth
Tell me your phone number again.
再给我说一遍你的电话号码。
tell (sb) a story/joke/secret/lie
She told us some funny stories about her sister.
她给我们说了一些有关她妹妹的趣事。
Sheppard was telling the truth .
谢泼德说的是实话。
tell sb straight (tell someone the truth, even though it might upset them) 直截了当地告诉某人
Tell me straight, Adam. Just answer yes or no.
你跟我直说吧，亚当。 你只要回答是或不是。
2
SHOW STH
说明某事物
to give information in ways other than talking 显示; 提示; 说明 T
tell sb how/what/where/who etc
The light tells you when the machine is ready.
机器准备好了灯会有显示。
The bear’s sense of smell tells it where prey is hiding.
熊的嗅觉告诉它猎物藏在哪儿。
tell sb about sth
What do these fossils tell us about climate change?
这些化石告诉我们哪些气候变化信息？
3
WHAT SB SHOULD DO
某人应做的事
to say that someone must do something 命令，吩咐; 给…下命令 T
tell sb (not) to do sth
The teacher told the children to sit down quietly.
老师叫孩子们安安静静地坐下。
I thought I told you not to touch anything!
我想我告诉过你什么都不要碰的！
tell sb (that)
Bernice was told she had to work late this evening.
伯尼斯被告知她今晚得加班。
tell sb what/how etc
Stop trying to tell me what to do all the time.
别老是对我指手划脚的。
Do as you are told (=obey me) and don’t ask questions.
叫你做什么你就做什么，不要提问题。
4
KNOW
知道
to know something or be able to recognize something because of certain signs that show this 知道; 看出; 认出 I,T not in progressive 不用进行式
can/can’t tell
She might have been lying. Benjy couldn’t tell.
她有可能一直在撒谎，本杰也说不清楚。
tell (that)
The moment Kramer walked in, I could tell that things were not going well.
克雷默一进来，我就觉出情况不妙。
tell (sth) a mile off (know easily) 一看就知道（某事）
You could tell a mile off that he was lying.
你一看就知道他是在撒谎。
tell when/how/whether/if etc
It’s hard to tell how long the job will take.
很难说这个工作要花多长时间。
tell sth by sth/from sth
I could tell from his tone of voice that Ken was disappointed.
听口气，我知道肯失望了。
5
RECOGNIZE DIFFERENCE
分辨差异
to be able to see how one person or thing is different from another 识别，辨别，分辨 T not in progressive 不用进行式
tell sth from sth
How can you tell a fake Vuitton handbag from the real thing?
你怎么辨别路易威登手袋的真假？
Can you tell the difference between sparkling wine and champagne?
你能区分气泡酒和香槟的差别吗？
6
tell yourself sth
to persuade yourself that something is true 提醒自己某事，告诉自己某事
I keep telling myself there is nothing I could have done to save him.
我不断告诉自己，我当时实在是无法救他。
7
WARN
警告
to warn someone that something bad might happen 警告，告诫 T usually in past tense 一般用过去式
tell sb (that)
I told you it was a waste of time talking to him.
我告诉过你，跟他讲是浪费时间。
tell sb (not) to do sth
My mother told me not to trust Robert.
我妈妈叫我不要相信罗伯特。
8
TELL SB ABOUT BAD BEHAVIOUR
告发不良行为
to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done – used especially by children [非正式] 告发，举报〔尤为儿语〕; I | informal
If you hit me, I’ll tell.
你要是打我，我就去告发你。
9
tell tales
to say something that is not true about someone else, in order to cause trouble for them – used especially about children [英] 诬蔑，搬弄是非〔尤指小孩〕 BrE
an unpopular boy, who was always telling tales on the other children
一个不招人喜欢、总爱搬弄其他孩子是非的小男孩
10
all told
10. altogether, when everyone or everything has been counted 总共，合计
There must have been eight cars in the accident, all told.
这次事故肯定总共涉及了八辆汽车。
11
AFFECT
影响
to have an effect on someone, especially a harmful one 产生影响〔尤指有害的影响〕 I not in progressive 不用进行式
tell on sb
These late nights are really beginning to tell on him.
这些天的熬夜真的开始让他吃不消了。
12
tell the time tell time
12. ; tell time AmE [美] to be able to know what time it is by looking at a clock 会〔从钟表上〕看时间，会看钟表 BrE AmE
13
I/I’ll tell you what tell you what
13. also 又作 a. used when you are suggesting or offering something b. used in order to emphasize what you are really saying [美] 听我说〔用于强调〕 AmE
I tell you what – let’s have a picnic in the park.
我跟你说 — 我们到公园野餐吧。
I tell you what, I’m not looking forward to standing up in court tomorrow.
听我说，我并不愿意明天去出庭。
14
to tell (you) the truth
14. used to emphasize that you are being very honest 老实说，实话对你讲
I don’t really want to go out, to tell the truth.
老实说，我不太想出去。
15
I can tell you/I’m telling you
15. used to emphasize that what you are saying is true even though it may be difficult to believe 我可以肯定地说/我说的没错
I’m telling you, Sheila, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
听我说，希拉，我这辈子从来没见过这样的事。
16
tell me
16. used before asking a question 告诉我〔用于提问之前〕
Tell me, do you think this dress goes with these shoes?
告诉我，你觉得这条裙子和这双鞋配不配？
So tell me, how was it in Argentina?
那么，告诉我，你在阿根廷过得怎么样？
17
I told you so
17. used when you have warned someone about a possible danger that has now happened and they have ignored your warning 我早告诉过你
I suppose you’ve come to say ‘I told you so.’
我想你来就是为了说一句“我早告诉过你”的吧。
18
I’ll tell you something/one thing/another thing let me tell you something/one thing/another thing
18. also 又作 used to emphasize what you are saying 我来讲一点，我告诉你一句〔尤用于强调自己所说的话〕
I’ll tell you one thing – you’ll never get me to vote for him.
我告诉你一点 — 你甭想让我投他的票。
Let me tell you something – if I catch you kids smoking again, you’ll be grounded for a month at least.
我告诉你们 — 如果我再抓到你们这些孩子在吸烟，就会罚你们至少一个月不准出门。
19
you can tell him from me
19. used to ask someone to tell another person something, when you are annoyed or determined 你可以向他转告我的话
Well, you can tell him from me that I’m going to make a complaint.
嗯，你可以向他转告我的话，就说我要投诉。
20
I couldn’t tell you
20. used to tell someone that you do not know the answer to their question 我不清楚，我没法说
‘How much would a rail ticket cost?’ ‘I couldn’t tell you; I always drive.’
“一张火车票要多少钱？”“不知道。我总是自己开车。”
21
I can’t tell you
21. a. used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret b. used to say that you cannot express your feelings or describe something properly 我无法表达，我无法形容
‘Where are you taking me?’ ‘I can’t tell you; it would spoil the surprise.’
“你要把我带到哪儿去？”“不能告诉你，不然那一份惊喜就没了。”
[+ how/why/what etc ]
I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been.
我说不出有多担心。
22
don’t tell me
22. used to interrupt someone because you know what they are going to say or because you want to guess – used especially when you are annoyed 不用告诉我，别说了〔用于打断对方的话，表示已经知道或想要猜他要说什么，尤用于生气时〕
‘I’m sorry I’m late but …’ ‘Don’t tell me – the car broke down again?’
“对不起，我迟到了，不过…”“别说了，又是车子坏了？”
23
sb tells me (that)
23. used to say what someone has told you 某人告诉我说
Mike tells me you’ve got a new job.
迈克告诉我，你找到新工作了。
24
you’re telling me
24. used to emphasize that you already know and agree with something that someone has just said 那还用说，你说得完全对
‘He’s such a pain to live with.’ ‘You’re telling me!’
“和他一起生活真痛苦。”“我知道。”
25
tell me about it
25. used to say that you already know how bad something is, especially because you have experienced it yourself 我早就知道了，我也有同感
‘I’ve been so tired lately.’ ‘Yeah, tell me about it!’
“我最近一直很累。”“是呀，我也是这样！”
26
you never can tell/you can never tell
26. used to say that you cannot be certain about what will happen in the future 谁也说不准，很难说
The boy might turn out to be a genius. You never can tell.
这男孩说不定最后还是个天才呢，谁知道呢。
27
there’s no telling what/how etc
27. used to say that it is impossible to know what has happened or what will happen next 无法知道，没法预料
There’s no telling what she’ll try next.
谁知道她接下去还想干什么。
28
that would be telling
28. used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret 那可不能讲〔因为是秘密〕
29
tell sb where to go/where to get off
29. used to tell someone angrily that what they have said is insulting or unfair 警告某人其言语不可容忍; 叫某人不要自以为是
‘Andy started criticizing the way I was dressed.’ ‘I hope you told him where to get off!’
“安迪开始批评我的穿着。”“我希望你叫他别自以为是！”
30
tell it like it is
30. to say exactly what you think or what is true, without hiding anything that might upset or offend people [美] 实话实说 AmE
Don always tells it like it is.
唐总是实话实说。
31
I’m not telling (you)
31. used to say that you refuse to tell someone something 我不告诉你
‘Mum, what are you getting me for my birthday?’ ‘I’m not telling you – you’ll have to wait and see.’
“妈妈，我生日你送我什么礼物？”“我不告诉你 — 你得自己等着瞧。”
32
tell me another (one)
32. used when you do not believe what someone has told you 我不信，哪有这种事
33 to make someone less likely to succeed in achieving or winning something 对…有不利影响，不利于…
I badly wanted the job, but knew that my age would probably tell against me.
我非常想要这份工作，但我知道我的年龄可能会对我不利。
34 if you can tell two people or things apart, you can see the difference between them, so that you do not confuse them 区分，辨别;
It’s almost impossible to tell the twins apart.
很难分清这对双胞胎。
35 to describe an event or person 描述，叙述
The poem tells of the deeds of a famous warrior.
这首诗叙述的是一位著名武士的事迹。
36 if someone in authority tells you off, they speak to you angrily about something wrong that you have done 斥责，责骂，训斥
be/get told off
Shelley was one of those kids who was always getting told off at school.
谢利是那种经常在学校挨训的孩子。
tell sb off for doing sth
My dad told me off for swearing.
我爸爸因为我说脏话而训斥我。
37 to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done – used especially by children 告发，打…的小报告，告…的状〔尤为儿语〕
Please don’t tell on me – my parents will kill me if they find out!
求你不要去告状 — 我父母如果知道会宰了我的！