How Do You Spell TELL ON?

Pronunciation: [tˈɛl ˈɒn] (IPA)

The spelling of the phrasal verb "tell on" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The "t" sound at the beginning is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar plosive. The "e" sound is pronounced as an open-mid front unrounded vowel, followed by the "l" sound pronounced as a voiced alveolar lateral approximant. The second "l" sound is pronounced the same way. Lastly, the "on" is pronounced as an open back rounded vowel, followed by a nasal sound represented by "n." Together, the word is pronounced /ˈtɛl ɑn/.

TELL ON Meaning and Definition

1. The phrase "tell on" can be defined as an idiomatic expression used to describe the act of revealing or informing someone about a secret, misdeed, or wrongdoing committed by another person. It often conveys the notion of betraying or reporting someone's actions to an authority figure, the person affected by the secret, or others who may be interested or impacted by the information.

   When one individual decides to "tell on" another person, they are choosing to disclose confidential or private information that they have become privy to. This can occur for various reasons, such as a sense of duty, a desire to seek justice, or even personal gain. By sharing details about someone else's actions or behavior, the informer becomes involved in potentially exposing the truth and may face consequences ranging from confrontation and social retribution to legal implications.

   The act of "telling on" someone can be seen in various settings, such as within families, schools, workplaces, or even among friends. It may involve providing information about illicit activities, rule violations, cheating, lying, or any other form of misconduct that the person wishes to expose. While the motivations behind "telling on" someone can vary, the act itself entails revealing and divulging hidden or secretive information that has the potential to affect the individuals involved and their relationships.

Common Misspellings for TELL ON

• rell on
• fell on
• gell on
• yell on
• 6ell on
• 5ell on
• twll on
• tsll on
• tdll on
• trll on
• t4ll on
• t3ll on
• tekl on
• tepl on
• teol on
• telk on
• telp on
• telo on
• tell in
• tellon

Etymology of TELL ON

The phrase "tell on" can have multiple meanings, so its etymology may vary depending on the specific context. Here are two possible explanations:

1. "Tell on" meaning "to inform on someone" or "to reveal someone's wrongdoing":

This usage can be traced back to the Old English word "tellan", which meant "to recount" or "to narrate". Over time, "tellan" evolved into Middle English "tellen", which involved revealing or disclosing information. The addition of "on" indicates the act of directing the information onto someone or something, hence "tell on" meaning "to inform someone about someone else's actions".

2. "Tell on" meaning "to have a visible impact or result":

In this case, the "on" serves as an intensifier.

Idioms with the word TELL ON

• tell on sb The idiom "tell on sb" means to reveal or disclose someone's wrongdoing or secrets to an authority figure or to someone who has the power to take action or enforce discipline.
• tell on sm The idiom "tell on someone" means to reveal or disclose someone's secret or wrongdoing to an authority figure or someone in a position of higher authority. It is often used in a context where someone informs others about someone's actions or behavior that may be inappropriate or in violation of rules or norms.
• tell on To reveal a secret or confidential information about someone to others, especially to someone in authority.

Similar spelling word for TELL ON

• Telma.