Phrase guide

show, don't tell

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ʃəʊ dəʊnt tɛl/

1

phrase

Meaning 1

Advice to writers: convey an impression by the way that events are described in the narrative, and not by explicitly stating facts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: لا تفصح، بل أبد — advice
  • Dutch: toon, in plaats van te vertellen — advice
  • Esperanto: montru, ne rakontu — advice
  • French: montre, ne dis pas — advice
  • Galician: mostrar, non contar — advice
  • German: zeigen, nicht erzählen — advice
  • Italian: mostra, non raccontare — advice
  • Persian: نشان دهید، نگویید — advice
  • Russian: показывай, а не рассказывай (pokazyvaj, a ne rasskazyvaj) — advice
  • Spanish: mostrar, no contar — advice