pray tell
Expressing incredulity, please explainExpressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts).
» Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.
Meaning
2 senses(idiomatic, sarcastic, usually)Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts).
But how, pray tell, do you "notice" something that happens when you're asleep?
(archaic)Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand).
Pray tell us, how will they fare while you are away?
Examples
4 sentencesPray tell your sister that I long to see her.
But why, pray tell, would you come to me with this information?
Who, pray tell, are you?
Who, pray tell, art thou?
Origin
From pray (“ask (politely)”) + tell (“explain”).From pray (“ask (politely)”) + tell (“explain”).
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