"afraid of telling" vs "afriad to tell"

Question

"afraid of telling" vs "afriad to tell"

Both "afraid to tell" and "afraid of telling" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Afraid to tell" is used when someone is hesitant or unwilling to disclose something, while "afraid of telling" is used when someone is fearful of the consequences of disclosing something.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

This phrase is used when someone is fearful of the consequences of disclosing something.

Examples:

She is afraid of telling him the truth because she thinks he will be angry.
He is afraid of telling his boss about the mistake he made.
They are afraid of telling their parents about their plans.

Alternatives:

fearful of telling
scared of telling
worried about telling

This phrase is used when someone is hesitant or unwilling to disclose something.

Examples:

He was afraid to tell her the truth about what happened.
She is afraid to tell her parents about her decision.
I am afraid to tell him how I really feel.

Alternatives:

hesitant to tell
reluctant to tell
unwilling to tell

Answer 1

afraid of telling

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

afriad to tell

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"afraid of telling" vs "afriad to tell"

afraid of telling

afriad to tell

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