Tattletale

A tattletale is a person, typically a child, who tells secrets or reveals information about another's wrongdoings, often to someone in authority. This action, known as tattling, is usually done to get someone else into trouble, gain favor, or avoid punishment themselves. The motivation behind tattling can range from genuine concern for rules being broken to petty jealousy or a desire for attention. While sometimes necessary to report serious misbehavior, excessive or trivial tattling can damage relationships and create a climate of distrust. It is a behavior generally discouraged among children as it can foster animosity and disrupt social dynamics, teaching the importance of resolving conflict amongst oneself, and with one's peers instead.

Tattletale meaning with examples

• During the play date, little Timmy quickly became a tattletale. Every time his friend, Sarah, made a small mistake, he would run to Sarah's mom and 'tattle' on her, for example, if Sarah spilled her juice. Sarah's mom was then forced to ask him not to interrupt or tattle so much during playtime. The children could not get along because of Timmy's lack of discipline and self control.
• The teacher explained to her class that they should try to resolve minor conflicts among themselves. When one student, David, was constantly going to the teacher to 'tattle' on his classmates, the teacher spoke to his parents in hopes that they could curb the behavior. David seemed unable to resolve any conflict, often seeking the teacher's approval for his tattling.
• The new employee was a bit of a tattletale, constantly reporting minor issues and perceived infractions to her manager. Her colleagues began to avoid her, seeing her as untrustworthy. Although she was trying to improve, her habit of 'tattling' made it difficult for her to build rapport or become a team player, creating a divide within the company.
• After John told the police that his brother was drinking underage, his brother quickly labeled John a 'tattletale'. He had always been a well-mannered individual, yet his inability to forgive his brother left their relationship severely strained. The incident created a lot of tension in their household, and made John a social outcast amongst his peers.
• The playground was a breeding ground for tattletales, where children constantly reported each other to the yard duty supervisor. Instead of working things out, the kids would run to the yard duty to gain attention, and they found themselves caught up in a cycle of complaints and counter-complaints, creating more problems than they solved.