not gonna lie
Honesty signal ahead
Not gonna lie is a casual phrase that frames what follows as honest, often unexpectedly so.
It signals the speaker is about to admit something they might normally keep to themselves: Not gonna lie, I kind of enjoyed that terrible movie.
Sometimes abbreviated NGL in texting.
The phrase can introduce genuine confessions or simply add emphasis to ordinary opinions.
- honestlyIn a truthful manner
- tbhTexting honesty marker
- no lieAssertion of truthfulness
- real talkFrank, unfiltered discussion
- truth be toldPreface to candid admission
straight up · no cap · for real · truth bomb · keeping it real · candid · blunt · frank · confession · lowkey · deadass · serious · raw · unfiltered · genuine · admit · actually · legit
not gonna liebeating around the bush
Avoiding direct communication
mincing words · lying through one's teeth · glossing over · hedging · dancing around it
not gonna lieno offense
Verbal cushion before criticism
with respect · if I may say so · pardon my French · treading lightly
not gonna lielying through one's teeth
Telling obvious, shameless falsehoods
sugarcoating · deceiving · fibbing · dissembling · prevaricating