This clock doesn't tell time very accurately.
•My watch stopped telling time, so I had to have it repaired.
2. Fig. to be able to read time from a clock or watch. •Billy is only four. He can't tell time yet.
•They are teaching the children to tell time at school.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
tell time — {v. phr.} To read a clock or watch. * /Although Johnny is only three years old, he is already able to tell time./ … Dictionary of American idioms
tell time — ► tell the time (or N. Amer. tell time) be able to ascertain the time from reading the face of a clock or watch. Main Entry: ↑tell … English terms dictionary
tell time — be able to ascertain the time from reading the face of a clock or watch * * * tell time (or tell the time) see ↑time, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑tell tell time (US) (or Brit tell the time) : to be able to know what time it is by looking at a clock … Useful english dictionary
tell time — to be able to read the time from a watch or clock. Kate was so proud of herself when she learned to tell time … New idioms dictionary
tell\ time — v. phr. To read a clock or watch. Although Johnny is only three years old, he is already able to tell time … Словарь американских идиом
tell the time (or N. Amer. tell time) — be able to ascertain the time from reading the face of a clock or watch. → tell … English new terms dictionary
tell — W1S1 [tel] v past tense and past participle told [təuld US tould] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(communicate something)¦ 2¦(show something)¦ 3¦(what somebody should do)¦ 4¦(know)¦ 5¦(recognize difference)¦ 6 tell yourself something 7¦(warn)¦ 8¦(tell somebody about… … Dictionary of contemporary English
tell — [ tel ] (past tense and past participle told [ tould ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 give information ▸ 2 order/advise to do something ▸ 3 recognize something ▸ 4 have clear effect ▸ 5 fail to keep secret ▸ 6 count something ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) transitive to give… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
tell the time — To read the time on a clock or watch • • • Main Entry: ↑tell * * * tell the time phrase to know what time it is when you look at a clock or a watch The children are learning to tell the time. Thesaurus: telling the time by a clockhyponym … Useful english dictionary
tell — ► VERB (past and past part. told) 1) communicate information to. 2) instruct to do something. 3) relate (a story). 4) (tell on) informal inform on. 5) (tell off) informal reprimand … English terms dictionary
