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Tattling: meaning, definitions and examples

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tattling

 

[ ˈtætlɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

informal contexts

Tattling refers to the act of reporting someone's wrongdoings or misbehavior, often in a childish or petty manner. It typically involves telling a parent, teacher, or authority figure about a minor infraction made by another child, often to seek attention or to get the peer in trouble.

Synonyms

reporting, snitching, telling

Examples of usage

  • She was tattling on her brother for eating the last cookie.
  • Instead of solving the problem themselves, the children kept tattling to the teacher.
  • Tattling can create distrust among friends.

Translations

Translations of the word "tattling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 delatar

🇮🇳 शिकायत करना

🇩🇪 petzen

🇮🇩 melapor

🇺🇦 докладати

🇵🇱 donosić

🇯🇵 密告する

🇫🇷 dénoncer

🇪🇸 delatar

🇹🇷 ihbar etmek

🇰🇷 고발하다

🇸🇦 الإبلاغ

🇨🇿 udávat

🇸🇰 donášať

🇨🇳 告密

🇸🇮 izdati

🇮🇸 skjalla

🇰🇿 жарнама жасау

🇬🇪 მოწერა

🇦🇿 şikayət etmək

🇲🇽 delatar

Etymology

The term 'tattling' likely originated from the Middle English word 'tattlen,' which means to talk or prattle. The roots can be traced back to the Old English word 'tætel,' meaning to chatter or gossip. Traditionally, tattling has been associated with children, reflecting their tendency to inform adults about each other’s misdeeds. The negative connotation of the word suggests that tattling is generally viewed as an undesirable behavior, often linked to a desire for attention or to manipulate social dynamics among peers. It suggests a lack of maturity in handling disputes or conflicts, leading to an ongoing dialogue about the ethics of reporting others’ behaviors in social and educational settings.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,625, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.