What Does "Tell Tales" Mean?
"Tell tales" is an English idiom. It means "to report or disclose information, often about someone's wrongdoing, especially when it's not one's place to do so."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "tell tales" used in a sentence:- She often tells tales about her coworkers to their manager, which creates tension in the office.
- Kids sometimes tell tales on their classmates to get them in trouble.
- I don't want to be known as the one who tells tales, so I keep my observations to myself.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Tell Tales" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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