pray tell
Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You think he is telling the truth, pray tell?”
“If you really believe that this project will finish on time, pray tell, how will you manage the budget?”
“If you truly intend to abandon your responsibilities at such a critical juncture, pray tell, what do you expect the outcome to be?”
From *pray* (to ask politely) + *tell* (to explain). This imperative construction formed as a request for information.
- 01
a little bird told me
I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose.
- 02
all told
With everything included, counted, or summed; in total.
- 03
don't tell me
Used to introduce a guess at a fact or situation, as if forestalling the other speaker's utterance.
- 04
I can tell you
Emphasises the truth of a statement.
- 05
I tell a lie
I am mistaken; I thought that what I said (or wrote) was true, but I have just realised that it is not.
- 06
I tell you
Synonym of I can tell you.
- 07
I'll tell you
Synonym of I can tell you.
- 08
kiss and tell
To betray a confidence by disclosing private information, especially of a sexual nature.
Last updated August 10, 2026