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# telltale

«telltale» in Mova's school dictionary: **a small clue that shows something is true or has…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (telltale; also tell-tale); noun (a telltale, telltales)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A telltale sign is a small clue that shows something is true or has happened: telltale crumbs on his face. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#m1)

2) (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ; children's word) A telltale (or tell-tale) is a child who tells adults about other children's naughty behaviour, a tattletale (US). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

Stories and detective work: telltale signs and clues help solve a mystery. Science: «telltale signs» of a disease, or of rain. Playground: «Telltale tit!» is a rhyme children use to tease. Safety: telling a grown-up when someone is hurt, in danger or bullied is not being a telltale — it is the right thing to do.

### examples

- The chocolate on his chin was a telltale sign. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#x1)
- Muddy paw prints were the telltale clues. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#x2)
- Don't be a telltale! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#x3)
- Telling a teacher about bullying is not being a telltale. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#x4)
- Yawning is a telltale sign you need sleep. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#x5)
- The telltale smoke showed where the fire was. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/#x6)

### note

Spelling: telltale or tell-tale (UK often hyphenated). US word for the person: tattletale. «Tell tales» (two words) = to tell on someone, or to tell lies. Getting help in danger is never «telling tales».

### In the corpora

- [Slang check: "narc" means a telltale; a "fiver" is a £5 note.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/99-olympiad-dilemmas-friends-truth-and-telling/18/)
- ["yabeda" means telltale or snitch, someone who tells the teacher; kids hate being called it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ukrainian-street/26-friendly-name-calling-and-real-insults/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «telltale» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/telltale/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.