Telltale

Noun

 * 1) One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
 * 2)  Tattletale; squealer.
 * 3) Something that serves to reveal something else.
 * The telltale was the lipstick on his shirt collar.
 * 1)  A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.

Synonyms

 * blabbermouth, gossip, rumormonger, talebearer

Related terms

 * tell tales

Adjective

 * 1) revealing something not intended to be known
 * His eye was blinking, a telltale signal that he was lying.
 * He blushed when he approached, a telltale sign that he was happy to see him.

Adverbs for Telltale
undisguisably; innocently; embarrassingly; indubitably; convincingly; ineradicably; inescapably; manifestly; ridiculously; undeniably; significantly; remarkably; conspicuously; noticeably; visibly; graphically.

Thesaurus
a tale-bearing animal, babbling, betrayal, betrayer, blab, blabber, blabberer, blabbering, blabbermouth, blabbing, broad hint, busybody, catchword, clack, clue, communication leak, cue, cue word, dead giveaway, delator, divulgation, divulgement, divulgence, divulging, evidence, evulgation, fink, gentle hint, gesture, giveaway, glimmer, glimmering, gossip, gossip columnist, gossiper, gossipmonger, hint, hot lead, implication, index, indication, indiscretion, informer, inkling, innuendo, insinuation, intimation, key, key word, kick, lead, leak, letting out, look, narc, newsmonger, newspaperman, nod, notion, nudge, obvious clue, peacher, prompt, quidnunc, reporter, rumormonger, scandalmonger, scent, sign, signal, snitch, snitcher, spoor, spy, squealer, stool pigeon, stoolie, suggestion, suspicion, symptom, tabby, talebearer, taleteller, tattler, tattletale, telltale sign, tip-off, tittle-tattler, trace, track, unwitting disclosure, vestige, whiff, whisper, whistle-blower, wind, wink, yenta

Etymology
From Old English (circa 1550)

Noun

 * Finnish: ,


 * Finnish: virtauslanka

Adjective

 * Finnish:

Derived terms

 * telltale compass