"tell tales about somebody"

[Tae-Bbong-E]

Hi,
Oxford dictionary says the pattern of tell tales is "tell tales (about something/on somebody)".

[from a link "https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/tale#tell_idmg_28"]




However, Collins one says it is "tell tales about somebody".

[from a line "https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tell-tales"]



Q1. Now I am confused which one is correct usage. Otherwise, could I say both of the patterns?
• tell tales on somebody.
• tell tales about somebody.


Q2. Could those patterns be used?
• tell tales on something
• tell tales about something,

 

[tedmc]

"About" is much more common though "on" can also be used.
The idiom is used with people rather than things.

 

[Tdol]

If reporting someone, I'd use on. If lying, I'd use about.

 

[Skrej]

The idiom is used with people rather than things.

That's incorrect. You could for example tell tales about your days of working at XYZ company, or tell tales about ACME Corporation's safety violations, etc.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

In that context, to tell tales about is to lie. It's a dishonest form of gossip.

To tell on is always to tattle, to snitch.

 

[jutfrank]

It seems you have haven't noticed that the two dictionary entries give two very different meanings. That's why the patterns differ. Read them again.