tell on

You tell a teacher, parent, or other person in charge that someone has done something wrong.

• Please do not tell on me.
• My brother told on me for eating the cake.
• Will you tell on them if they cheat?

How to use it: tell on someone (She told on her brother.); tell on someone for doing something (He told on me for skipping school.)

Similar words: report, inform on, rat on

Common phrases: tell on someone, tell on me

Something difficult or harmful starts to have a noticeable bad effect on someone.

• The stress is telling on her.
• Years of hard work have told on his body.
• Is the lack of sleep starting to tell on you?

How to use it: something tells on someone/something (The long hours are telling on his health.)

Similar words: take a toll on, wear down

Common phrases: tell on someone, tell on his health