- Used ironically to express strong agreement with or shared understanding of someone's negative experience or complaint.
- It means I know exactly what you mean because I've experienced it too, rather than asking for more details.
Explanation
Origin
- Likely evolved from the literal phrase tell me about it (meaning give me details) into an ironic expression of shared negative experience, probably in the mid-20th century.
- The irony comes from the fact that you *don't* actually need them to tell you more, because you already understand perfectly.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- I feel you. (Expressing empathy)
- Word. (Agreement, especially AAVE influence)
- For real. (Agreement)
Milder:
- Oh, I know the feeling.
- Yes, it can be difficult. (More formal)
- I understand completely.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Suitable for conversations with friends, family, or colleagues you know well.
- Avoid in very formal settings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might think you genuinely want more details about the problem, when you're actually expressing empathy and agreement.
Examples
- A: Ugh, this traffic is terrible. B: Tell me about it. Took me an hour to get here.
- A: My boss is driving me crazy with these last-minute requests. B: Tell me about it.
Dialogue
Sarah: My commute was brutal this morning. The train was delayed by 30 minutes.
Mark: Ugh, tell me about it. Mine was packed like sardines.
Sarah: Seriously! It's getting ridiculous.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Trying to get concert tickets is a nightmare. Botched checkout, site crashing... 😠Reply: Ugh, tell me about it! Took me 3 tries for the last tour.
- Post: Anyone else exhausted by adulting today? 😴 Comment: Tell me about it. Just paid bills. Ouch.
Response Patterns
- Often just met with a nod or a shared sigh.
- The original speaker might elaborate slightly, acknowledging the shared feeling: Right? It's the worst.
- Sometimes followed by the responder adding their own related complaint: Yeah, and yesterday...
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Tell me about it:
- The original speaker might feel validated and continue venting briefly or shift the topic slightly. Exactly! Anyway, how was your weekend otherwise?
- The person who said Tell me about it might follow up with their own brief, related anecdote. Yeah, reminds me of last week when...
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's always a response to someone else's statement, typically a complaint.
Intonation
- Often delivered with a sigh or a slightly weary, drawn-out tone.
- Emphasis is usually on Tell. TELL me about it.
Generation Differences
- Widely used across many generations, though perhaps slightly more common from Gen X onwards.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions, especially North America.