tell against
To function as a liability (for someone); to put into a condition of disadvantage.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Your lack of experience will tell against you in this interview.”
“The candidate's history of missed deadlines will likely tell against him when the manager decides who to promote.”
“While his impressive academic record was a strength, his inability to work well within a team told against him during the final selection process.”
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a little bird told me
I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose.
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all told
With everything included, counted, or summed; in total.
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don't tell me
Used to introduce a guess at a fact or situation, as if forestalling the other speaker's utterance.
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I can tell you
Emphasises the truth of a statement.
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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.
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I tell you
Synonym of I can tell you.
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I'll tell you
Synonym of I can tell you.
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kiss and tell
To betray a confidence by disclosing private information, especially of a sexual nature.
Last updated August 10, 2026