English

1918 song

Phrase

tell it to the marines

1. (idiomatic) I do not believe what you said.
   • 1829, Douglas Jerrold, Black-Ey'd Susan, Act I, Scene v

     William. No palaver! tell it to the marines. What, tacking and double tacking! Come to what you want to say at once.

Synonyms

• (idiomatic): tell it to Sweeney, tell it to the judge
• See also Wikisaurus:nonsense

Translations

References

1. ↑ Etymology of “tell it to the marines”