home truths
Blunt personal feedback
Home truths are blunt, uncomfortable facts about oneself that someone else points out.
The phrase implies the recipient needs to hear what they'd rather avoid: She sat him down and told him some home truths about his drinking.
The "home" suggests these truths hit close to where you live—they're personal, not abstract.
Chiefly British.
Direct, unguarded honesty
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
- forthrightnessQuality of being direct
plain-speaking · unvarnished · outspokenness · plainness · sincerity · transparency · heart-to-heart · tactlessness
Startling piece of information
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
acceptance · clarity · understanding · insight · sobering · dawning · disillusionment · self-awareness
Judgment of faults
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- challengeTest of ability
accusation · reckoning · intervention · showdown · clash · friction · tension · defensive
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- self-scrutinyCritical examination of oneself
- self-questioningProbing one's own thoughts
self-analysis · contemplation · self-awareness · reckoning · mirror · self-criticism · humility · growth
frankness
Direct, unguarded honesty
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
forthrightness · plain-speaking · unvarnished · outspokenness · plainness · sincerity · transparency · heart-to-heart · tactlessness · uncomfortable
eye-opener
Startling piece of information
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
acknowledgment · acceptance · clarity · understanding · insight · sobering · dawning · disillusionment · self-awareness · hindsight
criticism
Judgment of faults
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
challenge · accusation · reckoning · intervention · showdown · clash · friction · tension · defensive · pushback
self-examination
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- self-scrutinyCritical examination of oneself
self-questioning · self-analysis · contemplation · self-awareness · reckoning · mirror · self-criticism · humility · growth
home truthslies
Deliberate untruths
falsehoods · deceptions · fabrications · white lies · half-truths
home truthsflattery
Excessive insincere praise
sycophancy · sweet nothings · empty praise · blandishments · soft soap
home truthseuphemisms
Mild terms replacing harsh ones
platitudes · polite fictions · sugarcoating · soft-pedaling · whitewashing
home, truth, homes, homed, homing, homely, homelier, homeliest, homeliness