# "Tell it like it is" or "Say it like it is" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386 "2010-03-22T20:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/1 "2010-03-22T20:48:17Z")
Which expression do you use most: “Tell it like it is” or “Say it like it is” ? Can you also list which part of the country/world you are from, so we can see if there is a geographical component to the answers? Also, do the two forms mean the same thing, or is there a subtle difference in meaning? I was surprised by a quick Google search of these two terms. Please answer the poll before reading the spoiler [SPOILER]“Say it like it is” seems much more popular. Below are Google results 5,930,000 for “say it like it is” 777,000 for “tell it like it is” 2,420,000 for “i like to say it like it is” 342,000 for “i like to tell it like it is” 25,500,000 for “i say it like it is” 600,000 for “i tell it like it is” 9,870,000 for “he says it like it is” 3,620,000 for “he tells it like it is” [/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/2 "2010-03-22T21:37:24Z")
Hmm, right now, it is 100% “tell it like it is” and 0% “say it like it is”. This is more in line with my original expectations, but opposite of the Google search results. Can anyone explain the discrepancy? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/3 "2010-03-22T22:08:33Z")
I’m old enough to remember Aaron Neville’s #1 hit [“Tell It Like It Is”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-o1KjhQS4) from 1966. I can’t say I remember ever hearing someone say “say it like it is.” To elaborate, I would expect “tell it” to refer to content (e.g. “tell it like it is”) and “say it” to refer to delivery (e.g. “say it like you mean it”). Neither “tell it like you mean it” nor “say it like it is” sounds right. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/4 "2010-03-22T22:14:01Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m old enough to remember Aaron Neville’s #1 hit [“Tell It Like It Is”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-o1KjhQS4) from 1966. I can’t say I remember ever hearing someone say “say it like it is.” > > To elaborate, I would expect “tell it” to refer to content (e.g. “tell it like it is”) and “say it” to refer to delivery (e.g. “say it like you mean it”). Neither “tell it like you mean it” nor “say it like it is” sounds right. I agree 100 percent. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/5 "2010-03-22T22:16:09Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m old enough to remember Aaron Neville’s #1 hit [“Tell It Like It Is”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-o1KjhQS4) from 1966. I can’t say I remember ever hearing someone say “say it like it is.” > > To elaborate, I would expect “tell it” to refer to content (e.g. “tell it like it is”) and “say it” to refer to delivery (e.g. “say it like you mean it”). Neither “tell it like you mean it” nor “say it like it is” sounds right. What I would have said. The Google hits approach to solving usage issues is flawed as I see it. Means next to nothing in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/6 "2010-03-22T22:20:17Z")
I’ve also never heard “say it like it is.” I want to check out the context for the Google results. I’m guessing some of the "say"s are part of a longer phrase, as in: “he says it like it is (no big deal)” “I say it like it is (spelled)” ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/7 "2010-03-22T23:09:05Z")
I don’t use, and rarely hear, either. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/8 "2010-03-23T00:04:29Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’ve also never heard “say it like it is.” I want to check out the context for the Google results. I’m guessing some of the "say"s are part of a longer phrase, as in: > > “he says it like it is (no big deal)” > “I say it like it is (spelled)” If you check out the Google results (eg [this search](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22i+say+it+like+it+is%22&btnG=Search)) you’ll see that people are using “say it like it is” with the same meaning as “tell it like it is”. So I don’t think the search results are skewed by that phrase showing up in a different context. Maybe it’s a generational thing? I’m familiar with “tell it like it is” while my daughter was not familiar with it and thought “say it like it is” sounds better. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/9 "2010-03-23T13:13:28Z")
I use “tell it like it is”, but I realize I tend to be an oddball for my age cohort. I’m also familiar with the Aaron Neville song, which is what I draw my own use from. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/10 "2010-03-23T15:09:59Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > If you check out the Google results (eg [this search](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22i+say+it+like+it+is%22&btnG=Search)) you’ll see that people are using “say it like it is” with the same meaning as “tell it like it is”. So I don’t think the search results are skewed by that phrase showing up in a different context. > > Maybe it’s a generational thing? I’m familiar with “tell it like it is” while my daughter was not familiar with it and thought “say it like it is” sounds better. Yeah, I looked at them after posting, and you’re right. I’m sure there are a few instances of what I mentioned, but if so, they’re way down the list. I suppose it could be a generational thing. I’m young-ish (mid 30’s), but like **nashiitashii,** I tend to skew old on a lot of my cultural and linguisitic references. But whatevs, brah. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/11 "2010-03-23T17:09:18Z")
I’m 46, from California, and would never, in truth, use either the hoary “tell it like it is” or the deplorable “say it like it is.” When I even think of the former, it comes in the voice of Howard Cosell. If I’m going to have a voice in my head, let it be Lauren Bacall’s. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/12 "2010-03-24T11:28:19Z")
And it’s still unanimous with 55 people reporting. BTW, I’ve only heard it on TV, I don’t really say it. It sounds to me like something that would be started with a snap and ended with “Girlfriend.” and I’m just not that type of guy. ---
**Author:** ![Foma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Foma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foma)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/13 "2010-03-24T11:53:00Z")
I’m probably the ignorant hillbilly of the voters, but I’ve always _heard_ “say it like it is”. I _say_ it both ways, depending on context. I use “tell it like it is” for emphasis on a particular idea, for example: “Why don’t you just tell it like it is, dad. You think its inappropriate for me to eat Peeps for breakfast” I use “say it like it is” for emphasis on specific words or phrases. For example: “Say it like it is, dad: You think Peeps are icky.” A useless and arbitrary distinction, but what do you expect from someone who eats Peeps for breakfast? mmm…Peeps I’m originally from southern Missouri, for those regional linguists out there. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/14 "2010-03-24T12:00:27Z")
“Tell it like it is” is a command to someone to, well, tell it like it is. However, if someone follows my order, I’d say he’s someone who “says it like it is.” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-it-like-it-is-or-say-it-like-it-is/533386/15 "2010-03-25T06:25:26Z")
I always understood the “it” in “tell it like it is” to be a thing, event, or principle to be described. How the students are being pushed down by the administration, what happened at the concert last night, or how to play poker well. You say words and phrases, but you tell people the content embodied in those words–and there has to be someone else present to tell it to. If you’re locked in a room by yourself you can say anything you want. But you can’t tell anything to anyone, because there’s nobody to tell it to. “Say it like it is” doesn’t sound like good English to me. Californian born and raised.