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telling

telling

4.4
Showing something important or having a strong effect
  • adjective
  • /ˈtɛlɪŋ/
translation icon : revelador
  • Her expression was telling, hinting at the disappointment she felt.

Like, I do think it's going to be telling of how he views women.

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Examples

  • This line in the letter is the most telling line in this entire letter.

  • Like, I do think it's going to be telling of how he views women.

  • The results of the study were telling, revealing a clear pattern in the data.

  • The teacher's comments were telling of the student's understanding of the material.

Synonyms

revealing
vstelling
38 4.0

Showing information or parts that were hidden before

does this with a strong, striking effect that exposes hidden facts
telltale
vstelling
21 6.3

Showing something hidden, often without meaning to

emphasizes a striking, strong effect that exposes hidden information
weighty
vstelling
  • Formal
18 5.3

Serious and important, needing careful thought

focuses on a striking effect that exposes hidden information rather than importance
cogent
vstelling
  • Formal
17 6.8

Clear and easy to follow, so people find it convincing

centers on revealing hidden facts with a strong striking effect not persuasion
disclosive
vstelling
8.1

Tends to reveal information

does so with a vivid strong effect that reveals hidden information

Idioms

153 8.5

To say this to show you strongly agree with an obvious or unpleasant point

9.9

A question you say to show you already know that fact

Compounds

A way of finding out what will happen to someone in the future using mysterious methods

Openly honest and saying facts people hide

The act of being honest when it is difficult

How Revealing

revealing
38 4.0
telling
4.4
suggestive
18 5.2
subtle
276 6.0

Surface Forms

telling positive

Morphology

telling = tell (semi-transparent) = tell + ing

Formed from the verb 'tell' with adjectival use of '-ing'; the sense 'revealing' is clear but 'having a strong effect' is a metaphorical extension that may not be fully transparent to all learners.

Etymology

The word telling comes from the old verb tell, which meant 'to say' or 'to show'. So a telling look or fact 'says' a lot and reveals the truth.