1. vt.告诉　 give information (in spoken or written words)
2. vt.吩咐　 give order; direct
3. vi.泄露秘密　 reveal a secret
4. vi.决定，确定　 decide or determine; know definitely

　～ a falsehood〔lie〕　说谎
　～ a story　讲故事
　～ one's beads　边数念珠边祈祷
　～ one's experiences　诉说自己的经历
　～ sb's fate〔fortune, future〕　给某人算命
　～ the difference　分辨差别
　～ the soldiers　命令士兵们
　～ the stars　数星星
　～ the time　报时
　～ the truth　说实话
　～ twins　区分双胞胎
　～ amply　充分说明
　～ artfully　机智地说
　～ badly　讲得很拙劣
　～ bluntly　直言不讳地告诉
　～ candidly　讲话公正
　～ complacently　自鸣得意地讲
　～ conclusively　最后决定
　～ dispassionately　心平气和地讲述
　～ effectively　有效地影响
　～ exactly　确切地说出
　～ fearlessly　大胆地说
　～ fervently　讲话热情
　～ flatly　直截了当地说
　～ frankly　直率地告诉
　～ genially　愉快地讲述
　～ gravely　严重泄密
　～ heavily　影响很大
　～ hysterically　歇斯底里地责骂
　～ impressively　讲话感人
　～ jestingly　说话没趣
　～ much　讲得充分
　～ musically　声调和谐
　～ plainly　明白地告诉
　～ regretfully　遗憾地说
　～ reverently　敬言
　～ seriously　郑重地告诉
　～ simply　简明地讲述
　～ straight　直率地说
　～ vividly　讲述生动
　～ well　讲得很好
　～ apart　把…区别开
　～ off number　报数
　～ about　谈…的情况
　～ about the game　讲述那场比赛
　～ about the incident　讲述那件事
　～ from a quick examination　迅速查清
　～ the true from the false　辨别真伪
　～ on health　影响健康

　I can't tell.　我说不上来。
　Who can tell?　谁能说出来?
　As far as I can tell, Sylvia has split up with Mark.　就我所知，西尔维娅已同马克离婚。
　I promise not to tell.　我保证不泄露出去。
　May your efforts tell in your studies.　愿你的努力在学习上取得成果。
　His unselfish work is beginning to tell.　他无私的工作开始产生效果。
　The influence of the school has begun to tell.　学校的影响已开始起作用了。
　Her nervousness began to tell as soon as she entered the room.　她一走进屋就显得神经紧张。
　My stomach begins to tell.　我觉得肚子饿了。
　Every blow tells.　打一下是一下。
　Don't look till I tell you.　我叫你看，你再看。
　What have you been thinking about?Tell me.　你一直在想些什么?告诉我。
　Mind that you don't forget to tell him.　记住，别忘了告诉他。
　I'll tell her, but it won't have any effect.　我可以告诉她，但不会起什么作用。
　Do as I tell you and you shall be set free.　按照我说的话去做，你就可以获得自由。
　In this hour of victory, we had so much to tell each other.　在这胜利的时刻，我们有多少话要说啊！
　I detest people who tell lies.　我痛恨撒谎的人。
　You're telling me, the price of beer is ridiculously high!　我同意，啤酒的价格真是高得荒唐！
　The child can already tell the time.　那孩子已会看钟点了。
　It was difficult to tell his exact age.　很难判断他到底多大岁数。
　Her face told her joy.　她脸上流露出欢乐。
　She playfully inspected Martin's hand and told his fortune.　她闹着玩，看马丁的手给他算命。
　This can hardly be told in words.　这简直没法用言语说出来。
　The story was told from one generation to another.　这故事一代代往下传。
　That's what I was told.　这就是我听到的。
　The recipe tells how to make maple syrup dumplings.　这个制法讲如何做枫糖点心。
　No one could tell exactly what was going to happen.　谁也不能猜出到底会发生什么情况。
　No one can tell where or when or how he will die.　没有谁能知道自己在何处、何时及怎样死亡。
　Can you tell which is which?　你能看得出哪是哪吗?
　Tell me your address and telephone number, please.　请告诉我你的住址和电话号码。
　Why has nobody told me this before?　为什么以前没人告诉我这事?
　Has she told you the price?　她告诉你价钱了吗?
　The teacher won't tell the students the answer to the question till everyone hands in his exercise book.　等每个学生都交了练习本后，教师才会把答案告诉他们。
　He finally told her his decision.　他终于把他的决定告诉了她。
　I don't want to influence you either way, so I won't tell you my opinion.　我不想对你有任何影响，所以我不告诉你我的看法。
　The editor called me to his office to tell me the news.　编辑把我叫到他的办公室告诉我这个消息。
　The old lady next door was telling me all her troubles.　隔壁的老太太正在对我诉说她的种种烦恼。
　We all jumped for joy when we were told the news.　我们被告知这个消息时，大家都高兴得跳了起来。
　I've been told this seriously by some high officials.　有几个高级官员郑重地跟我谈过这一情况。
　He told the news to everybody in the village.　他把这个新闻告诉了全村的每一个人。
　Next morning, Beauty told this dream to her father.　第二天早晨，美人把这个梦告诉了她的父亲。
　I didn't intend to tell it to you.　我本不打算把这事告诉你的。
　He told the whole story to John.　他把全部经过告诉了约翰。
　I want you to tell my friend your very interesting experience exactly as you have told it to me.　我要你把自己非常有趣的经历像讲给我听那样告诉我的朋友。
　He will tell you how to get there.　他会告诉你怎么去。
　She told us which number bus to take.　她告诉了我们坐哪路公共汽车。
　I'll tell you what to do.　我来告诉你怎么办。
　Did they tell you when to start out?　他们告没告诉你什么时候出发?
　Please tell me where to get the form.　请告诉我在哪里拿表格。
　If Brian uses my parking space again, I'll really tell him where to get off.　如果布赖恩再占我的停车位置，我真的要痛骂他了。
　She told me in her letter that they had got another bumper harvest this year.　她在信里告诉我，他们今年又获得了丰收。
　The old woman told him that she had two grandsons at the front.　老太太告诉他说，前线上有她两个孙子。
　You might tell them that I hope to be back tomorrow night.　你可以告诉他们，我希望明晚回来。
　She told me she was going to Shanghai.　她曾告诉我她要去上海。
　Tell him I'll be back in half an hour.　告诉他，我半小时后就回来。
　I've tried to tell him he's wrong, but he still holds to his original opinion.　我已经试图让他知道错了，但他仍坚信原来的想法。
　A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.　炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
　I was told that he had left the job a long time before.　有人告诉我说，他早已不干这个工作了。
　I'll tell you what I've been thinking.　我来给你讲讲我这段时间的想法。
　Now, I'll tell you how I got that.　好，我来告诉你们我是怎样弄到那东西的。
　Can you tell me why you have to say so?　你能否告诉我你为什么要这样说吗?
　Tell me to whom I should give the letter.　告诉我这信该给谁。
　The light tells you if the machine is on.　指示灯告诉你机器是否在工作。
　"She isn't eating," they told me.　“她没有吃，”他们告诉我说。
　"Open it and see what's inside," I was told.　“打开它看看里面有什么”，有人告诉我说。
　Tell him to wait for us at the gate.　让他在大门口等我们。
　I told her to send the letter by airmail.　我叫她把那封信寄航空。
　The commander told the soldiers to stay where they were.　指挥员命令士兵们留在原地。
　He told us again and again to be on guard.　他一再要我们提防。
　Mother told you to be home by ten.　妈妈让你十点前回到家里。
　He told us not to worry about him.　他让我们不要为他着急。
　Who told you to come out?　谁叫你出来的?
　I have been told to wait here.　我被告知在此等候。
　His family, paying $126 a week for the house, were told by the landlord to pay $130.　他家本来每星期交房租126美元，房东要他们交130美元。

 ♣ all told
　总共　be counted and included with all people, items, etc.
　A group of students filed in, fourteen or fifteen all told.　一队学生鱼贯而入，共有十四五个人。
　Her crew was reduced to twenty-four all told.　船员减少到总共24人。
 ♣ tell about　(v.+prep.)
　告诉有关…的情况　give sb information such as a story, concerning sb/sth
　She told about Linda, who was very kind to her.　她谈了谈林达的情况，林达对她非常好。
　He told about Mrs. Emily, who was kind and charitable.　他讲了艾米莉夫人的事，她既善良又宽厚。
　He told about his plans.　他谈到他的计划。
　I don't want to tell about my failure.　我不想讲我的失败。
　His face tells about his honesty.　他的表情可以说明他的诚实。
　Then briefly she told us about herself.　于是她简单地给我们谈了谈她的情况。
　Can you tell me about that?　你能把那个故事讲给我听吗?
　I'll tell you about it later.　这事我以后再告诉你。
　I told Brosin about that the other night.　前些天一个晚上我给布罗辛谈了这件事。
　Can you tell me about a way to prevent milk from turning sour in hot weather?　你能告诉我热天防止牛奶变酸的方法吗?
　Has she told you about leaving China for home?　她跟你谈了离开中国回国的事了吗?
 ♣ tell against　(v.+prep.)
　证实对…不利　be recorded as unfavourable to sb/sth
　In an investigation, a new fact became known, which told against him.　在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
　Her poor eyesight is bound to tell against her applying for a job.　她视力不好，必然不利于她找工作。
 ♣ tell apart　(v.+adv.)
　区分开　be able to recognize the difference between (two or more people or things)
　〔说明〕 tell apart通常不用于进行体。
　The two brothers are so much alike that their own mother can hardly tell them apart.　这两兄弟长得太像了，连他们的母亲几乎都不能区分他们。
 ♣ tell from　(v.+prep.)
　辨别　be able to distinguish one person or thing from another
　Can you tell her from her twin sister?　你能将她和她的孪生姐妹分开吗?
　How can we tell the good from the bad?　我们怎么能区分好坏?
　He is a fellow who can't tell right from wrong.　他是个分不清是非的人。
 ♣ tell it like it is
　讲真话，说实话　speak the truth; be perfectly honest
　Joe is our monitor, he should tell it like it is.　乔是我们的班长，他会告诉你实情。
　He's very straightforward, you can be sure he'll always tell it like it is.　他很直率，你可以相信他总是讲实话的。
 ♣ tell me another
　不见得　not believe sth
　You won first prize in a talent contest?Tell me another!　你在才能竞赛中获得了一等奖?不见得吧！
 ♣ tell of　(v.+prep.)
　告诉某人有关…的情况或信息　give sb information such as a story, concerning sb/sth
　〔说明〕 tell of通常不用于进行体。
　I'm telling here of a time long ago.　我现在讲的是很久以前的故事。
　He also told of the intimate friendship he had formed with the Burudi people.　他还讲到了他和布隆迪人民结下的亲密友谊。
　They told of the excellent situation prevailing in their province.　他们谈了谈他们省的大好形势。
　The book tells of her sister's life in new China.　这书谈到了她妹妹在新中国的生活情况。
　Her blush told of her embarrassment.　她脸红显露出她的困窘。
　The calculating look in his eyes told of Norman blood.　他那工于心计的眼神显示出他有诺曼人的血统。
　She told us of the difficulties she had met with in her work.　她给我们谈了谈她在工作中碰到的困难。
　She told me of what she had been reading and her plan for the next term.　她给我讲了一下她这段时间看的书和她下学期的计划。
　We must tell them of our decision.　我们应当把我们的决定告诉他们。
 ♣ tell off　(v.+adv.)
1. 责备，斥责 scold sb
　Mr. Black got angry and told off the boss.　布莱克先生一怒之下责骂了上司。
　Some of them have assumed arrogant airs and become fond of telling people off.　他们有些人架子大了，变得喜欢训人了。
　Mum told me off for wearing my best shoes for playing football.　妈妈责骂我穿着最好的鞋子去踢足球。
　The conductor told the school boys off for the throwing litter on the floor of the bus.　公共汽车司乘员训斥了那些在车内乱扔果皮纸屑的小学生。
　The director told him off for being late for work again.　主任责备他上班又迟到了。
　The little boy's mother told him off for being naughty.　小男孩的母亲因为他淘气把他骂了一顿。
　He didn't like being told off for something he hadn't done.　他不愿因自己根本未做过的事而受申斥。
　He was told off for being careless.　他因粗心大意挨说了。
2. 分派 order sb to do sth
　We were told off for special duty.　我们被派去执行特殊任务。
　They were told off to clean the latrines.　他们被逐一派去扫厕所。
 ♣ tell on〔upon〕　(v.+prep.)
　〔说明〕 tell on〔upon〕不用于被动结构。
1. 告发 inform on sb
　I missed the lesson and John told on me.　我缺了这堂课，约翰告发了我。
　I won't ever do it again, I swear. Please don't tell on me.　我永远也不会再干那样的事了，我起誓，请不要告发我。
2. 产生（坏的）影响 have a bad effect on
　Working on the night shift is really beginning to tell on Colin; he's looking very tired.　上夜班真的开始影响科林的健康了，他看上去非常疲倦。
　All those years' worry and hard work are beginning to tell on Tom.　这些年的烦恼和劳累已开始对汤姆产生影响。
　It's the strain of putting the job through that has told on me.　完成这项任务过于劳累，对我产生了影响。
　His age is beginning to tell on him.　他开始显得衰老了。
　This work is telling on his health.　这工作正在影响着他的健康。
　All the late nights are telling on my work.　这些天熬夜对我的工作产生了坏的影响。
 ♣ tell to sb's face
　当面讲　not speak of it behind sb's back
　An upright man ought to tell a man of a fault to his face instead of speaking of it behind his back.　一个正直的人应该当面讲出别人的缺点，而不应在背后议论。
 ♣ there is no telling
　很难说　it is impossible to know
　There's no telling where they've gone.　没法说他们到哪儿去了。
　There was no telling when their own turn would come.　说不上什么时候会轮到他们自己。
　There is no telling whether the good news is true or not.　这个喜讯是否真实，说不清楚。
　I cannot say how many people will come—there's no telling.　我说不准有多少人要来——难以预料。
 ♣ you never can tell
　很难说　it is impossible to know
　How can they fail to know it?But you never can tell.　他们怎么会不知道呢?不过也难说。
　You never can tell, you might win a fortune on the football game.　难说，你也许会在足球赛中发一大笔财。

 ♣ tell, acquaint, advise, inform, notify
　参见acquaint条。
 ♣ tell, tell about〔of〕
　tell　可直接接宾语，如story, news, time, name, answer, difference, reason等名词或代词，意思是“告诉…”; tell about〔of〕的意思是“讲述〔说明〕关于…的事”。
 ♣ tell of, speak to, talk to
　参见speak条。
 ♣ tell, bid, command, order
　参见command条。
 ♣ tell, say, speak, talk
　参见say条。

1. 他告诉我们他通过了考试。
　［误］ He told that he had passed the exam.
　［正］ He told us that he had passed the exam.
　［析］ tell后不能直接接从句表示“告知某人某事”时，须接双宾语，即tell sb sth.
2. 老师叫我们不要吵闹。
　［误］ The teacher told us don't make any noise.
　［正］ The teacher told us not to make any noise.
　［析］ “告诉某人不要做某事”，英语用"tell sb not to do sth "，即用不定式作复合宾语。
3. 说实在话，我不太想去看演出。
　［误］ Telling the truth, I'm not very interested in going to the show.
　［正］ To tell the truth, I'm not very interested in going to the show.
　［析］ to tell the truth常在句中作插入语，这是一种固定表达方式，不用分词短语。
4. 正如我昨天告诉你的，他在会上站起来说话却不知所云。
　［误］ As I spoke to you yesterday, he got up to speak and said nothing at the meeting.
　［正］ As I told you yesterday, he got up to speak and said nothing at the meeting.
　［析］ 说出具体的内容要用动词tell，而speak只表示说话的动作而不涉及内容。
5. 不要说谎话！
　［误］ Don't say lies!
　［正］ Don't tell lies!
　［析］ say与tell相比较，只有tell才能和有祈使语气的话连用。
6. 她说：“我要走了。”
　［误］ She told, "I am leaving."
　［正］ She said, "I am leaving."
　［析］ tell后面一般要加说话的对象（人称代词），然后再加说话的内容；而say可以直接加内容。
7. 简和萨长得这么相像，只有她们的母亲才分得清她们。
　［误］ They are so alike that only their mother can tell Jane and Sar.
　［正］ They are so alike that only their mother can tell Jane and Sar apart.
　［正］ They are so alike that only their mother can tell Jane from Sar.
　［析］ “把…分得清楚，把…辨别开”英文用tell...from...或tell...and... apart表示。
8. 每个学生都能讲述他在考试前的紧张心情。
　［误］ Every student can tell his nervousness before the examinations.
　［正］ Every student can tell of his nervousness before the examinations.
　［析］ tell作为“告诉，讲述”讲，用在能讲完整的事物前，如story, news, truth, lie, opinion, views等时是及物动词；用在不能讲清楚或讲完整的事物前，是不及物动词，后面要跟of或about.
9. 他告诉了我有关这所名牌大学的一些消息。
　［误］ He told me some information about this prestigious university.
　［正］ He gave me some information about this prestigious university.
　［析］ 可以说give sb information, supply〔provide〕 sb with information，但不能说tell sb information.
10. 她查看约翰的手掌，给他算命。
　［误］ She inspected John's palm and said his fortune.
　［正］ She inspected John's palm and told his fortune.
　［析］ 表示“（给某人）算命”，要说 tell sb's fortune，不可以说 say sb's fortune.

　［同义词］ narrate, recount, relate, say, state, utter, determine, discern, discover
　［词源］　古英语tellen（说，讲）