When someone tells you to “tell it to the judge,” they are essentially dismissing what you’re saying and implying that if you want to pursue your point, argument, or complaint seriously, you should take it to a formal or authoritative figure, like a judge in a court of law.
The phrase is typically used when the speaker doesn’t want to engage further in a discussion because they find it irrelevant, unimportant, or unconvincing in the current context.
For example, if you’re explaining why you were late or trying to justify something you did, and someone responds with “Tell it to the judge,” they’re indicating that your explanation isn’t persuasive enough to continue discussing it with them, and if it’s truly an issue, it should be handled in a more official or legal environment.
Sentence Examples
- “I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore—tell it to the judge if you’re so upset about it.”
- “You think your story will change my mind? Tell it to the judge, not to me.”
- “You missed the deadline again? Well, tell it to the judge when they review your case.”
- “If you’re going to complain about the rules, you can tell it to the judge at the next hearing.”
- “She was arguing with me over the fine, but I just told her, ‘Tell it to the judge if you’re not happy with it.'”