tell the time
tell the time
1. To keep track of the current time of day. My grandfather's old pocket watch doesn't tell the time anymore, but I really like the look of having it on me.
2. To be able to understand the time of day by looking at an analog clock or watch. Now that many young children carry phones around with them, it's becoming harder and harder to teach them how to tell the time.
See also: tell, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
tell the ˈtime
(British English) (American English tell ˈtime) read the time from a clock, etc: She’s only five — she hasn’t learnt to tell the time yet.See also: tell, time
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- at all hours
- at all hours (of the day and night)
- ahead of (someone's or something's) time
- ahead of your/its time
- any old time
- all the time
- any time means no time
- any day
- against time
- against the clock