(chiefly, British, idiomatic) I am mistaken; I thought that what I said (or wrote) was true, but I have just realised that it is not.
I visited Canada in 1996—no, I tell a lie, in 1997.
I tell a lie means: I am mistaken; I thought that what I said (or wrote) was true, but I have just realised that it is not.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
I tell a lie means: I am mistaken; I thought that what I said (or wrote) was true, but I have just realised that it is not.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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I tell a lie means: I am mistaken; I thought that what I said (or wrote) was true, but I have just realised that it is not.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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