tell to

tell (something) to (one)

1. To express, narrate, or reveal something to one. He loves telling imaginative stories to his grandkids. I wish I didn't have to tell this to you, but I'm flunking out of college.
2. To explain something to one who is unlikely to be unsympathetic to or negatively impacted by what one believes. Used as a sarcastic, pithy retort. A: "I don't think they should have given you a ticket. The sign is really unclear about when you can and can't park there." B: "Yeah, tell that to the judge." A: "Everyone on the planet should give up meat." B: "Tell that to the farmers who have built their lives around raising livestock."
See also: tell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tell something to someone

to say something to someone. Please tell the whole truth to me. Please tell your explanation to Mary.
See also: tell
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • tell (something) to (one)
  • recount
  • recount (something) to (one)
  • recount to
  • tall story
  • a tall story
  • (one's) jam
  • a tall tale
  • tall tale
  • be (right) down (one's) alley
References in periodicals archive
It helps to remember that it will take time for the person you tell to absorb what you have said.
To tell or not to tell