Tell, William
1430
TELL OF 2 [T] to cause (someone) to know what they must do; order; direct: That child has got to learn to do what/as he's told. | [+obj+wh-] Don't try to tell me how to behave! | [+obj+to-v] I told you to get here early, so why are you late? → see ORDER (USAGE) 3 [T+obj+that/wh-] to show; make known; INDICATE: This red light tells you that the machine is ready to use/tells you whether the machine is on or off. 4 [I;T] to know for certain; recognize or be sure: [+(that)] It was so dark I couldn't tell it was you. | You can tell that it's a camel by the fact that it has a hump. | [+wh-] It's difficult to tell when it will be finished/how long it will take, because we've never done this sort of job before. | [+obj+from/apart] I can't tell Jane from Sarah/tell Jane and Sarah apart – they look so alike. | 'Do you think he's going to win?' 'Who can tell?' 5 [T+obj; usually in past tense] to warn or advise: [+(that)] I told you he was a fool, but you wouldn't listen to me. | [+obj+to-v] I told you not to print that story, and now look what's happened. I won't say 'I told you so' but I did! 6 [(on)] fml to be noticeable; have an effect: Eventually the tennis champion's greater experience began to tell, and he won easily in the end. | All those late nights are beginning to tell on your work. (=have a bad effect on it) → see also TELLING 7 [(on)] infml to speak someone's secret to someone else; inform against: You won't tell on me, will you – otherwise I'll be in trouble! 8 all told altogether; when everyone or everything has been counted 9 tell me another infml, especially humor I don't believe you; I think you're joking or lying 10 tell tales (out of school) to talk about things that should remain secret → see also TALE, TELLTALE 11 tell the time to read the time from a clock or watch or by other means 12 there is no telling it is impossible to know: There's no telling what will happen if she meets him while she's in this bad temper. 13 to tell (you) the truth (used to introduce a personal opinion, to admit something etc): To tell the truth, I don't really like her. 14 you can never tell also you never can tell— one can never be sure about something: 'Do you think we'll be lucky this time?' 'You never can tell.' (=perhaps) 15 you're telling me infml (used for showing very strong agreement): 'This is a steep hill.' 'You're telling me! I need a rest.' 16 ... tell me about it spoken used in order to tell someone that you have experienced the situation they are telling you about, or that you have the same feelings that they do: 'Cycling in the rain was horrible.' 'Tell me about it!' | 'I'd rather be back at the hotel bar.' 'Yeah, tell me about it.' → see SAY (USAGE)
tell against sbdy. phr v [T no pass.] to count in judgment against, and so prevent the success of: His prison record told against him when he tried to get a job.
tell of sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] especially lit to mention; describe: This ancient poem tells of the deeds of a famous warrior.
tell sbdy. ⇔ off phr v [T] 1 infml (especially of a teacher, parent, manager etc) to talk angrily to (someone who has done something wrong); REPRIMAND: The teacher told him off for not doing his homework. → see also TELLING-OFF 2 fml to separate (a group) from the whole body for special work or to do something: [+obj+to-v/for] Ten soldiers were told off to dig ditches/for guard duty.
William Tell
Tell, William a Swiss FOLK HERO of the 14th century, who opposed the Austrians who ruled Switzerland. According to a famous story, Tell was ordered by the Austrian GOVERNOR to use his CROSSBOW to shoot an apple placed on his own son's head. He succeeded in doing this because of his great skill, and later killed the governor. This encouraged the
Swiss people to fight and gain their independence. Tell's story is told in a well-known OPERA by ROSSINI.
tell-er /'telə/ n 1 especially AmE a person employed to receive and pay out money in a bank 2 a person who counts votes
tell-ing¹ /'telɪŋ/ adj having a great or important effect; SIGNIFICANT: The most telling factor in their defeat was their lack of supplies. | a telling argument → see also TELL —ly adv
telling² n 1 [C;U] when you tell a story: The story gets better with each telling. 2 there is no telling used to say that there is no way to know what will happen in a certain situation: There's no telling who is going to show up tonight.
telling-'off n severe or angry words spoken to someone because they have done something wrong; REPRIMAND: The child was given a good telling-off for stealing apples. → see also TELL OFF
tell-tale¹ /'telteɪl/ adj [A] that makes a fact known, especially an unpleasant fact: The murderer was given away by a few telltale bloodstains on his car seat. | telltale signs of a slowdown in business activity
telltale² n infml derog a person who informs about other people's secrets, wrong actions etc (mainly used by or of children)
tel-ly /'teli/ n [C;U] BrE infml (a) television
te-me-ri-ty /tə'merɪti/ n [U] fml foolish confidence; rashness (RASH): She had the temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three days' work.
temp¹ /temp/ n infml a person, especially a secretary, employed to work in an office for a short or limited period of time while someone is absent, while there is a great deal of work etc
temp² v [I] infml, especially BrE to work as a temp: She's temping during the university vacation.
'temp, agency → see TEMPING AGENCY
tem-per¹ /'tempə/ n 1 [C] a person's present or habitual state of mind, especially with regard to whether they are angry or easily become angry: Jean's in a bad temper (=angry) because she missed the bus and had to walk to work. | He has a naturally even/sweet temper. (=is calm and pleasant by nature) | He was behaving so stupidly that I found it hard to keep my temper/that I nearly lost my temper. (=became angry) | Tempers were becoming rather frayed (=people were getting angry) so the chairman brought the meeting to an end. | When tempers have cooled (=when everyone has become calm again) we will decide what to do. 2 [C;U] infml an angry, impatient, or bad state of mind: Be careful what you say to her – she's got quite a temper. (=she easily becomes angry) a fit of temper | John's in a temper today, so try not to annoy him. | She flies into a temper if you contradict her. 3 [U] tech the degree to which a substance, especially a metal, has been hardened or strengthened by tempering (TEMPER) 4 out of temper old-fash fml angry 5 -tempered /tempədl-əd/ having a temper of the stated kind: a bad-tempered old man → see also HOT-TEMPERED, ILL-TEMPERED
temper² v [T] 1 to bring (metal, clay etc) to the desired degree of hardness or firmness by special treatment: Steel is tempered by heating it and then putting it into cold water. 2 [(with)] fml or lit to make less severe by adding something else: Let justice be tempered with mercy.
tem-pe-ra /'tempərə/ n [U] tech a method of painting in which the colouring material is mixed with a thick liquid, such as egg
tem-pe-ra-ment /'temprəmənt/ n [C;U] a person's nature, especially as it influences how they think or behave; DISPOSITION: Actors often have excitable temperaments. | Whether a person likes a routine office job or not depends largely on temperament.
tem-pe-ra-men-tal /,temprə'mentl/ adj 1 usually derog having frequent changes of temper; easily excited or made angry; UNPREDICTABLE: The actress was so temperamental that many people refused to work with her. | (fig.) My old car is a bit temperamental and doesn't always start. 2 caused by one's temperament: I have a temperamental dislike of sports. —ly adv: He's temperamentally unsuited to office work.
tem-pe-rance /'temprəns/ n [U] 1 total avoidance of alcoholic drinks: a temperance society 2 fml self-control in speech, behaviour, or especially the drinking of alcohol