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tell against. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
tell against, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
tell against in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
tell against you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Pronunciation
Verb
tell against (third-person singular simple present tells against, present participle telling against, simple past and past participle told against)
- (transitive, idiomatic) To function as a liability (for someone); to put into a condition of disadvantage.
1871, Harriet Beecher Stowe, chapter 27, in Pink and White Tyranny:ome people . . . have been so short-sighted and reckless as to clamor for an easy dissolution of the marriage-contract. . . . Is it possible that they do not see that this is a liberty which, once granted, would always tell against the weaker sex?
1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 34, in The Way of All Flesh:Ernest's want of muscular strength did not tell against him here.
- 2003 June 23, First Chapter: Auto da Fay by Fay Weldon, New York Times:
- ard as he worked, his age was beginning to tell against him.
- (transitive, idiomatic) To serve as evidence which casts doubt upon.
1892, George Gissing, chapter 2, in Born In Exile:She knew he was disposed to catch at anything that seemed to tell against Godwin's claims.
1905, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons,”, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes:"Such a fact must tell against the theory."
- 2002 Oct. 1, John Grimshaw, Clue Challenge: BOLE, The Times (UK):
- he comma tells against this reading.
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