Cool MateDiscuss vs Tell me about it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Discuss
Top 2,000 (common)A1verb
Tell me about it
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Discuss
| Discuss | Tell me about it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈskʌs/","/dɪˈskʌsɪz/","/dɪˈskʌst/","/dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈskʌs/","/dɪˈskʌsɪz/","/dɪˈskʌst/","/dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɛl mi əˈbaʊt ɪt//🇺🇸 //tɛl mi əˈbaʊt ɪt// |
| Meaning | To talk about something with others. | Say more about something. |
| Example | Let's discuss the details of the project in the meeting. | I heard you went on a trip! Tell me about it! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | exhaustively, fully, in detail, convene (something) to, meet to, want to, with, as discussed, a forum to discuss something, have something to discuss, exhaustively, fully, in detail, convene (something) to, meet to, want to, with, as discussed, a forum to discuss something, have something to discuss | tell me more, tell me everything, tell me their story |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect, overlook | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'discuss' without an object, e.g., saying 'We will discuss' instead of 'We will discuss the topic'., Confusing with 'disclosure' which is related to revealing information, not talking about it., Misusing in passive voice, e.g., 'The topic was discussed by us' is awkward; prefer active voice. | Using it in formal situations where a more serious response is needed., Confusing it with 'tell me about that,' which is more specific., Omitting context, making the phrase confusing without prior information. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written contexts. Appropriate for academic, business, and casual conversations. Avoid in very casual contexts where simpler terms like 'talk about' might be preferred. | Used in casual conversations to invite someone to elaborate. Not suitable for formal contexts like business meetings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Discuss vs Tell me about it
What's the difference between Discuss and Tell me about it?
Discuss: To talk about something with others. Tell me about it: Say more about something.
Which is more formal: Discuss and Tell me about it?
Discuss is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Discuss: Let's discuss the details of the project in the meeting. Tell me about it: I heard you went on a trip! Tell me about it!
Can I use Discuss and Tell me about it interchangeably?
Not always. Discuss and Tell me about it are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.