tale-teller
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who spreads gossip or malicious stories: "tale-teller" refers to someone who habitually tells tales, especially in a way that is intended to cause trouble or harm.
- A storyteller (archaic or literary): In older or more poetic usage, "tale-teller" can simply mean a narrator of stories, though this sense is less common today.
Usage Examples
As a gossip or informer:
- The office tale-teller reported every minor mistake to the manager. (Someone who spreads stories about others behind their backs.)
- Children often regard the class tale-teller as a nuisance. (A child who tells on others to get them in trouble.)
As a storyteller (rare):
- The old man was a skilled tale-teller, captivating the audience with his legends. (A narrator of tales.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be a tale-teller": to have the habit of revealing secrets or spreading rumors.
- She is such a tale-teller that no one trusts her with private information. (She cannot keep a secret.)
Variants and Related Words
Tale-bearing (n): the act of spreading gossip or reports.
- His tale-bearing caused a rift between the two friends. (His gossip created conflict.)
Teller (n): a person who tells something (e.g., a story or a bank teller).
- The teller of the story paused for effect. (The narrator.)
Synonyms
- Gossip: a person who talks about others' private lives.
- Informer: someone who gives information, often secretly.
- Tattletale: a child or person who tells on others.
Related Idioms
"Tell tales out of school": to reveal private or confidential matters.
- Don't tell him any secrets; he's known to tell tales out of school. (He cannot keep information private.)
"A tale-bearer": synonymous with tale-teller, emphasizing the act of carrying stories from one person to another.
- A tale-bearer is rarely welcome in any group. (Someone who spreads rumors.)