tales

Dead men tell no tales.

something that you say which means people who are dead cannot tell secrets. I suspect they killed him because he knew too much. Dead men tell no tales.

See also: dead, men, tell

tell tales

to tell someone in authority about something bad that someone has done because you want to cause trouble for them. She wasn't very popular at school - she was the sort of kid who was always telling tales about other kids. (often + about) I had half a mind to tell my boss about him but I didn't want her to think I was telling tales.

See also: tell