to be honest
In all sincerity
To be honest signals that what follows is candid, sometimes uncomfortably so.
It often introduces an admission or opinion the speaker might normally keep private: To be honest, I never liked him.
The phrase can soften criticism or preface a confession.
Ironically, its frequency in casual speech has diluted its force—speakers use it even when honesty isn't remarkable.
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- forthrightnessQuality of being direct
- truth be toldPreface to candid admission
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
admission · sincerity · frankly · speaking frankly · not gonna lie · no offense · between us · cards on the table · integrity · at the end of the day · genuineness · basically · authenticity · bluntly · as a matter of fact · real talk · confession · anyway
- Candor Phrasestruth be told, frankly, to tell the truth, speaking frankly, candor
- conversational hedgesjust saying, frankly, truth be told, in my opinion, with all due respect
- filler phrasesum, uh, like, you know, I mean
- I statementsI am, I feel, I think, I believe, I want
- phrasesnoun phrases, noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, prepositional phrases
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
honest, honesty, honestly, dishonest, honorable, dishonesty, honorably, dishonestly, hones