not to put too fine a point on it
To be direct
Not to put too fine a point on it signals that blunt or direct speech is coming—the speaker is about to state something plainly without softening or excessive precision: Not to put too fine a point on it, but your proposal is terrible.
The phrase acknowledges that what follows may sound harsh while proceeding anyway.
It derives from the image of a sharpened point—the speaker declines to refine the statement further.
- bluntlySpeaking without diplomacy
- franklyWithout concealment or evasion
- in all honestyPhrase preceding sincere statement
- candidlyWithout concealment or evasion
- plainlyIn obvious fashion
directly · straight talk · harsh · truth · brutal · honest · plain and simple · straightforward · unvarnished · hard truth · cutting · sharp · matter-of-fact · no-nonsense · clear-eyed · unflinching · no sugarcoating · uncomfortable
not to put too fine a point on itbeating around the bush
Avoiding direct communication
hemming and hawing · hedging · if I may say so · pussyfooting · with all due respect
not to put too fine a point on itif I may be so bold
Preface to forward speech
with all due respect · in a manner of speaking · more or less · arguably · provisionally
putting, putter, finest, fineness, refinement, points, pointed, pointing, pointer