grain of truth
Small valid element
A grain of truth is a small element of accuracy within something otherwise false, exaggerated, or misleading.
The phrase acknowledges that lies and rumors often contain just enough reality to seem plausible: The accusation was unfair, but there was a grain of truth in it.
Even the wildest stories may have a grain of truth at their core.
- veracityConformity to fact
- iotaMinuscule quantity
- nuggetSmall solid lump
- hintsIndirect suggestions
- kernelSeed or essential core
reality · essence · fact · axiom · core · exaggeration · tall tale · distortion · nuance · aphorism · evidence · bare facts · implication · clue · intimation · hidden meaning · belief · white lie
- truthsfacts, fact, reality, verity, verities
- Candor Phrasesto be honest, honestly, frankly, speaking frankly, if i'm being honest
grain of truthpack of lies
Multiple deliberate untruths together
bald-faced lie · whole cloth · fantasy · fairy tale · hogwash
grain of truththe whole truth
whole truth · absolute truth · gospel truth · unvarnished truth · nothing but the truth
grain, grains, grained, grainy, graininess, granule, granular, granularity, granulate