tattle — to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone else has done
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone else has done
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtætəl/
Example Sentences
- My little brother always tattles when I sneak extra cookies from the jar.
- The office tattle spread quickly among the employees during lunch break.
- She promised not to tattle about the surprise party preparations.
tattle
VERB[/ˈtætəl/]
to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone else has done
Telling the teacher on classmates
Tattle about stolen cattle, and cowboys rush to battle!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Tattle derives from Middle English tatelen, meaning 'to chatter' or 'to gossip'. The word originally described idle talk or continuous chattering, particularly as observed in children's endless prattling, and gradually evolved to mean 'to tell tales' or 'to inform on someone'.
Breakdown
The word comes from the Middle English root tatelen (to chatter, gossip), which is imitative in origin, reflecting the repetitive nature of idle talk or babbling sounds.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother always tattles when I sneak extra cookies from the jar.”
“The office tattle spread quickly among the employees during lunch break.”
“She promised not to tattle about the surprise party preparations.”
“Stop being a tattletale and solve your problems like adults!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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