level with
Tell the truth
To level with someone is to speak honestly and directly, especially when the truth is uncomfortable: I'm going to level with you—your chances aren't good.
The phrase implies dropping pretense or evasion to communicate frankly, often as a prelude to unwelcome news.
Level with me: did you take the money?
- confideShare private matters
- be honestSpeak without deception
- admitConfess or grant entry
- acknowledgeConfirm receipt or truth
- relateConnect or recount
confess · reveal · forthright · candid · aligned · transparent · upfront · straight talk · straightforward · no holds barred · genuine · even · sincere · symmetrical · flush · truthful · parallel · assert
- candorfrankness, directness, bluntness, candor, straightforwardness
- honestyhonesty, truthfulness, candor, sincerity, dishonesty
- Candor Phrasesto be honest, truth be told, honestly, frankly, to tell the truth
- disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclosure, disclose, divulge
communication style
level withbeat around the bush
Avoid stating directly
hedge · equivocate · dodge · stonewall · obfuscate
level, with, levels, leveled, leveling, leveler, levelers, levelness, libel