Tattle definition

tătl
tattled tattles tattling
See word origin
Frequency:
To reveal the plans or activities of another, especially ones that are secret or improper.

Tattled on his sister when she snuck out; tattled to his parents about what his sister did.

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To chatter; prate.
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To reveal (something about someone) to another, as through gossiping.
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Idle talk; chatter; prattle.
noun
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A tattletale.
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To talk idly; chatter; gossip.
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To reveal other people's secrets; tell tales.
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To inform against someone.
verb
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To reveal (a secret) through gossiping.
verb
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Idle talk; chatter; tattling.
noun
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(intransitive, pejorative) To report others' wrongdoings or violations; to tell on somebody; to gossip or to disclose incriminating information.
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(intransitive) To chatter.
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noun
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Gossip; idle talk.
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Origin of tattle

  • Middle English tatelen to stammer probably from Middle Dutch of imitative origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Likely akin to M.Du., M.L.G., E.Fris. tateren - "to chatter, babble", possibly of imitative origin. Attested in 1481, in William Caxton's translation of "The History of Reynard the Fox" in the sense "to stutter", probably borrowed from Middle Dutch.

    From Wiktionary

Tattle Sentence Examples

  • Then she asked, "You're not going to tattle on Claire about the real Annie, are you?"

  • A resignation letter isn't a time to "tattle."

  • She also mentions the rumour-mongering of recent tabloid tittle tattle.

  • Instead of trawling the media for tittle tattle why don't you bring some definite matters to the table?

  • Instead of trawling the media for tittle tattle why do n't you bring some definite matters to the table?

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Words near tattle in the Dictionary