Meanings (ES + gloss)
decir • dictar
To instruct or inform.
Please tell me how to do it.
Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
darse cuenta • discerner (disused) • discernir • distinguir • identificar • notar • notarse • percatar[se] • precisar • saber
To discern, notice, identify or distinguish.
Can you tell whether those flowers are real or silk, from this distance? No, there's no way to tell.
I can tell you're upset.
contar • decir • devisar (disused) • noticiar • platicar • recontar
To reveal information in prose through outright expository statement — contrasted with show.
Maria rewrote the section of her novel that talked about Meg and Sage's friendship to have less telling and more showing.
Phrases
I can tell youI tell a lieI tell youI tell you whatI'll tell youI'll tell you whatI'm not telling youI'm telling a lieI'm telling youa little bird told meall toldbetellcan you tell usdead men can tell no talesdead men tell no talesdo telldoes Macy's tell Gimbel'sdon't pee in the wind and tell me it's rainingdon't pee on my leg and tell me it's rainingdon't piss in the wind and tell me it's rainingdon't piss on my leg and tell me it's rainingdon't tell meforetellforthtellfortune-tellgo tell your mother she wants youhear tellhiss-and-tellkeep telling yourself thatkiss and tellkiss-and-telllet me tell youlive to tell the talemistellno-tell hotelno-tell motelnow you tell meonly time will tellpiss on someone's leg and tell them it's rainingpray tell