Hey there! This is TOP episode 151. TELL – 15 Useful Expressions
My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. I believe you can eliminate your language blockade. It is 100% guaranteed. The secret word here is consistency. There are other secret words too. That is why I record this podcast’s episodes, and each comes with a little worksheet, a one-pager to help you digest and test what you’ve practised here. You can speak English more confidently, slay that fear and enjoy communication.
Visit my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Visit my shop at teacherola.com and enjoy your journey to fluency! Happy learning!
Hello hello! Thank you for choosing this episode! Today we’re going to go through 15 expressions with the word ‘tell’. Some of them are just everyday expressions, others are idioms, and there’s one phrasal verb as well. I did not fit in here all the phrases with the word ‘tell’. That’s your homework. Do some further research. Find out what expressions I missed. Go to oxford dictionary, type the word ‘tell’ in the search bar and make a list of expressions I did not mention here.
Before we dig into 15 expressions with ‘tell’ I have to tell you a few things. Every Thursday at 11 am I go live just for a quick chat, 20 minutes or so to discuss some language-related tips. You’ll find me as teacherola.podcast. So join me on Thursday at 11:00 live on Instagram!
Visit my shop, buy a Worksheet set, and have your Worksheets in one place. They’re editable. You can complete them on your smartphone. Very convenient, no excuses.
Check out my e-book with episode transcripts. Have access to 50 episode transcripts and absorb them in written form if that’s up your street.
Lastly, I am working on my Speak English With Tv Series course, a programme focused on one skill only, speaking. If you’re wondering whether such a course is right for you grab a checklist, the link is in the description. If you would like to join my group lessons in a small group of 6, let me know. Write an email or catch me on Instagram. Thank’s for your patience and let’s get back to the episode.
One.
Tell the time – to say what the time is, perhaps after somebody asks the time.
She was so sick she couldn’t even tell the time.
Two.
Tell a secret – to give information about something, especially something that should be kept secret.
Do you want me to tell you a secret?
Three.
Tell a story – to tell someone about something that has happened or what someone has said.
He’s telling similar stories to everybody.
Four.
Tell a lie – It means what you hear, but there’s another layer to it. So, you might say this when you have just said something wrong and want to correct it. It means ‘I’m wrong’.
She’s from the Netherlands, no, I tell a lie – she’s from Belgium.
Five.
Tell the truth – that’s the opposite of the above ‘to tell a lie’. This time we use the definite article ‘the’ because there’s one truth, but many lies. tel a lie. One of many lies. Tell the truth.
Stop lying and tell me the truth.
Six
To tell you the truth – used to say that one is being honest and admitting something.
To tell the truth, I’ve never liked them.
Seven.
Tell me about it – used as an ironic acknowledgement, ok? So use it when you are familiar with a difficult or unpleasant situation or experience described by someone else.
- Well, it’s very hard to find time for reading these days.
- Tell me about it!
Eight.
Tell the difference – to discern, to distinguish between two objects, people, situations, anything really. To notice what is different between similar people or things.
Sorry, but I can’t tell the difference. They look exactly the same.
Nine:
Tell one from another – It’s the synonym to the previous expression. To tell the difference. So, again, to perceive things as different. To tell apart. To distinguish.
They are twins so I can’t tell one from the other.
Ten.
Tell a joke – to say things that are intended to make someone laugh.
Tell us that joke again! It’s hilarious!
Eleven.
Tell somebody the way – to show the way. To give direction.
Sorry, could you tell me the way to the Eiffel Tower?
Twelve.
Tell the future – to predict beforehand what will happen.
Who can tell the future?
Thirteen.
Tell it like it is – to say what the facts are. To speak about unpleasant things in an honest way.
I’m just telling it like it is.
Fourteen.
To tell somebody off – to speak angrily to somebody for doing something wrong. To scold someone.
Her parents were always telling her off for going out with her friends instead of studying.
Fifteen.
Time will tell – used to say that you will have to wait for some time to find out the result of a situation.
Time will tell whether you’re right.
Here you have it! 15 useful expressions with ‘tell’. Now let’s practice. Listen and repeat.
She was so sick she couldn’t even tell the time.
Do you want me to tell you a secret?
He’s telling similar stories to everybody.
She’s from the Netherlands, no, I tell a lie – she’s from Belgium.
Stop lying and tell me the truth.
To tell the truth, I’ve never liked them.
- Well, it’s very hard to find time for reading these days.
- Tell me about it!
Sorry, but I can’t tell the difference. They look exactly the same.
They are twins so I can’t tell one from the other.
Tell us that joke again! It’s hilarious!
Sorry, could you tell me the way to the Eiffel Tower?
Who can tell the future?
I’m just telling it like it is.
Her parents were always telling her off for going out with her friends instead of studying.
Time will tell whether you’re right.
Well done! Now, go to your inbox and get the worksheet to test yourself. Translate sentences into English. If you aren’t a member of TOPeople download the worksheet from teacherola.com/151.
If you find this episode useful, tell your friends about my podcast, and share it with one person. Thank you so much for doing so!
Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next Wednesday! We’ll be practicing past forms of irregurar verbs. Till then, happy learning. Take care! Stay fearless and say it out loud! Bye!