telegraph

To show your feelings or plans through your movements or behaviour, often without meaning to.

• His face telegraphed his disappointment.
• Try not to telegraph your next move.
• She telegraphed her impatience by repeatedly checking the clock.

Similar words: signal, reveal, give away

Opposites: conceal, hide

Common phrases: telegraph your intentions, telegraph a punch, telegraph your next move

To send someone a message using an electrical signal system once common before telephones.

• They telegraphed for help.
• She telegraphed the news to her brother.
• The captain telegraphed that the ship had reached port.

How to use it: telegraph someone that… (He telegraphed his wife that he would arrive on Monday.)

Similar words: wire, cable

Common phrases: telegraph someone, telegraph the news, telegraph for help

An older device or system that sends messages over long distances using electrical signals.

• The museum has an old telegraph.
• Messages once travelled across the country by telegraph.
• The telegraph operator tapped out a message in code.

Common phrases: electric telegraph, telegraph operator, by telegraph