Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tell you what

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.46 in modern English

Syllables: tel-l y-ou what
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Introduces a compromise or arrangement where the interlocutor has some benefit or advantage.

Colloquial

phrase

Synonym of I can tell you.

Colloquial

Example Sentences

"Tell you what, you can have it for fifty quid if you'll promise to give it a good home."
"Tell you what, you won't find another one that cheap anytime soon."

Etymology

Ellipsis of I'll tell you what or I tell you what. The sense introducing an arrangement also corresponds to another, longer established collocation of I'll tell you what I'm gonna do or let me tell you what I'm gonna do.

Usage

Colloquial

Synonyms

I can tell you

Questions

What does tell you what mean?: Introduces a compromise or arrangement where the interlocutor has some benefit or advantage.
Where does tell you what come from?: Ellipsis of I'll tell you what or I tell you what. The sense introducing an arrangement also corresponds to another, longer established collocation of I'll tell you what I'm gonna do or let me tell you what I'm gonna do.

How to pronounce tell you what

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