tell tales
Spin false yarns
To tell tales is to report someone's misbehavior to an authority, especially among children: Don't tell tales on your sister.
The phrase carries connotations of disloyalty or pettiness—a tattletale tells tales.
More neutrally, actions or evidence can tell tales by revealing hidden truths: The empty bottles told tales of last night's party.
Reveal another's wrongdoing
- snitchOne who tells authorities
- rat outInform against an accomplice
- squealShrill, piercing cry
- informGive facts to
expose · report · betray · whistleblow · narc · grass · sing · confess
Speech without full voice
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
buzz · idle talk · gab · natter · prattle · chitchat · talebearer · gossipmonger
Invent or manufacture
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- embellishAdd decorative elements
- exaggerateOverstate beyond truth
deceive · lie · concoct · misrepresent · spin · stretch the truth · whopper · untruth
Account of events
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- mythsTraditional untrue narratives
- legendsTraditional stories or icons
- anecdotesBrief amusing accounts
sagas · epics · parables · allegories · folktales · oral tradition · ballads · yarns
Careful attention to risk
- forewarnAlert in advance
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- omenProphetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
foreshadow · prophesy · red flag · harbinger · presage · premonition · writing on the wall · heed
tattle
Reveal another's wrongdoing
inform · expose · report · betray · whistleblow · narc · grass · sing · confess · divulge
whisper
Speech without full voice
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
hearsay · buzz · idle talk · gab · natter · prattle · chitchat · talebearer · gossipmonger · rumormonger
fabricate
Invent or manufacture
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- prevaricateSpeak misleadingly to deceive
- embellishAdd decorative elements
exaggerate · deceive · lie · concoct · misrepresent · spin · stretch the truth · whopper · untruth · mendacity
narrative
Account of events
anecdotes · sagas · epics · parables · allegories · folktales · oral tradition · ballads · yarns · chronicles
caution
Careful attention to risk
portent · foreshadow · prophesy · red flag · harbinger · presage · premonition · writing on the wall · heed · alert
tell taleskeep mum
Remain silent intentionally
hold one's tongue · stay quiet · say nothing · keep quiet · omertà
tell taleskeep faith
Maintain trust and commitment
have someone's back · shield · defend · take the fall · fall on one's sword