Tell on = The phrase ‘tell on’ in the context of the statement means ‘to have an effect that can be clearly seen, especially a bad effect’; to begin to show a negative effect that something is having on one:
She’s lately been under a lot of stress and it has begun to tell on her health.
Hours of stress, sleepless nights and the worry are really telling on Kim lately.
The increasing usage of mobile devices has begun to tell on public health.
The stress of working long hours is beginning to tell on Maria.
Now most women feel that husbands, followed closely by mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are telling on their marriage.
Telling = (Adj) means to have a striking or revealing effect; significant. Telling effect, impact, comment, example, detail, etc.:
She was coming on well fitness-wise, but that gluttony had a telling effect on her waistline.
The type of content being circulated on social media has a very telling effect on the minds of our children.
More example sentences
Since the share of total exports has fallen drastically, it has had a telling effect on all sectors of our economy.
They need to prove the cynics wrong; but if only implemented in letter and spirit, these measures can have a telling effect.
He is determined to continue with his fight in the court that has had a telling effect on his personal life.
She had become more confident after the split-up, and this had a telling effect on her career.
She condemned the world leaders in an emotional speech at UN and it had a telling effect on the audience.
The number of Coronavirus cases is not only alarming but it has a telling effect on the global economy.
