to tell the truth
Being fully honest
To tell the truth is a phrase introducing a confession or admission, signaling that what follows is candid or might surprise: To tell the truth, I never liked him much.
It often precedes something the speaker has been reluctant to say, or corrects a previous evasion.
Sometimes used for emphasis even when no deception preceded it.
- honestlyIn a truthful manner
- in all honestyPhrase preceding sincere statement
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- candidlyWithout concealment or evasion
- real talkFrank, unfiltered discussion
confession · forthrightness · actually · veracity · acknowledgment · speak your mind · straight up · honest to God · secret · testimony · transparency · disclosure · cards on the table · sincerity · voice · raw · frankness · genuine
- Candor Phrasesto be honest, honestly, frankly, speaking frankly, if i'm being honest
- truthstruths, facts, fact, reality, verity
- filler phrasesum, uh, like, you know, I mean
- concession phrasesadmittedly, granted, that said, in fairness, having said that
to tell the truthto be honest
Phrase preceding candor
frankly · between you and me · off the record · not to put too fine a point on it
tell, truth, telling, truthful, teller, tells, truthiness, retell, untold