Telltale

Definitions

1. One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
2. An indicator, such as a warning light, that serves to warn of a hazard or problem.
3. Something that serves to reveal something else.
   figuratively
4. A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.
5. A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
6. A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
7. A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course.
8. A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.
9. A bird, the tattler.
10. A story or fable that has a moral or message.

Equivalents

16 more languages

العربيةالراوي

Catalàespietagrímpolarevelador

Cymraegclapgiclebryn

Esperantostukaĉo

فارسیسپزگ

Suomiilmiantajajuorukellokantelupukkinäyttölaitepaljastajapaljastava+ 3 more

Galegolerchalercho

Italianomostraventorivelatorerivelatrice

Nederlandsaanwijzingcontroleapparaatklikspaanonthullend+ 1 more

Polskikapuśplotkaraplotkarkaplotkarzskarżypyta+ 2 more

Portuguêsdelatorfofoqueiro

Românădenunțătorguralivlimbut

Русскийболтунвыдающийдоносчикиндикаторнамекобличительныйпредательскийсвидетельствующийспле́тникуказательуликаябеда+ 9 more

Svenskaavslöjande

Türkçededikoducugösterengöstergeispiyoncumuhbirsayaç+ 3 more

Українськанавушник

Examples

“Your husband is at hand; I heare his Trumpet, / We are not tell-tales, Madam; feare you not.”

“There were some ill-natured people —tell-tales—it seemed, in Tamai; and hence there was a deal⟳ of mystery about getting up the dance⟳.”

“Louis tells me that the gossip of the sailors finds its way aft, and that two of the telltales have⟳ been badly beaten by their mates.”

“The Chinese girls who saw⟳ me yesterday are telltales. I'd better wait⟳ till dark.”

“Try⟳ to teach⟳ your child that there's a time to intervene and a time to mind⟳ your own⟳ business. Nobody loves a telltale.”

“A railroad company, which has properly erected a “telltale,” or signal board⟳, to give⟳ warning of the approach⟳ of a train⟳ to a bridge and which lights the place⟳ at night by an electric light⟳, is not responsible for injury caused at night by the “telltale” to a brakeman who had been passing under it at regular intervals for five weeks, though when injured he was standing upon a new car higher than those before used, and though he ad received no warning from the company as to the danger of standing upon such a car while passing under the "telltale".”

“A float⟳ telltale to be provided which shall connect⟳ with indicator on first floor by a small chain run⟳ through 1-2 inch pipe and over pulleys well guarded against the weather.”

“For example, when trailers containing new automobiles were first piggybacked two areas of potential damage⟳ became evident: (1) diesel locomotive exhaust⟳ left a film of oil on the new autos; and (2) auto windshields could be scarred or cracked by the metal-tipped "tell-tales" which warn⟳ men atop trains of oncoming bridges or tunnels. Accordingly, automobiles aboard piggyback flats are usually coupled into the train⟳ 15 or more cars behind the locomotive; and telltales have⟳ been raised.”

“Except for informational readout displays, each discrete and distinct telltale shall be of the color shown in column 2 of Table 2.”

“In order⟳ to resolve⟳ the discrepancy and permit⟳ the use⟳ of telltales in informational readout displays, the agency proposed the following requirement: Telltales and gauges incorporated into informational readout displays ( a ) Shall have⟳ not less than two levels of light⟳ intensity, a higher one for day and a lower one for nighttime conditions. (b) In the case of telltales amd gauges not equipped with a variable light⟳ intensity control⟳ shall have⟳ a light⟳ intensity at the higher level […]”

“The telltale was the lipstick on his shirt collar.”

“It supplies many useful links and tell-tales.”

“In most cases the event is shielded by a large mass and only telltales arrive⟳ on earth. Such telltales include⟳ neutrinos, or even some form⟳ of radiation.”

“It can be claimed that VC-dimension is to PAC-learning what finite telltales are to Inductive inference.”

“Just as small pieces of rock produce⟳ telltale directional noon holes, so do large pieces of rock on snow⟳ produce⟳ telltales: but these telltales are of rather a different kind.”

“The sailmakers mistake⟳ can be an excellent way to lose⟳ a race⟳ as the telltale signals were disturbed and confusing.”

“If you turn⟳ toward the wind, the sail⟳ becomes undertrimmed, and the inside, or windward, telltale starts to rise⟳ and flutter as the flow⟳ is disturbed.”

“The telltale shows if wind is flowing across the sail⟳ on every point⟳ of sail⟳ except a run⟳.”

“"Metamorphoses . . ." is the title of a book of telltales (or serialised fables) written by Lucius Apulei¡us, a neo-platonist priest in the second century A.D.”

“This telltale is not like⟳ the story that you put⟳ in the hands of your children, or those narrated by mothers in their children's bedrooms in Western Europe before sleep⟳. This is a telltale that is not welcome⟳ but is forbidden to be distributed.”

CEFR level