English Expression · Intermediate
tell tales
To lie, to be making false claims
Pronunciation: say tell tales
Meaning
To report someone's misbehavior to an authority figure, especially as a child.
Example
Don't tell tales to the teacher about what happened during recess.
Don't tell tales to the teacher about what happened during recess.
Practice tips
- Practice tell tales out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for intermediate-level learners.