INDEX:
1. someone who does not cheat, steal, break the law etc
2. someone who tells the truth
3. so honest that some people think you are rude
4. to speak honestly
5. when someone behaves in an honest way
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ DISHONEST
see also
↑ TRUST/NOT TRUST
↑ TRICK/DECEIVE
↑ TRUE
↑ LIE
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1. someone who does not cheat, steal, break the law etc
▷ honest /ˈɒnɪst, ˈɒnəstǁˈɑːn-/ [adjective]
someone who is honest does not lie, steal or cheat, and can be trusted :
▪ He’s one of the few honest politicians we have left.
▪ As the job involves handling large amounts of money, it’s essential that our workers are honest.
scrupulously honest
very careful to always be completely honest
▪ She was scrupulously honest in all her business dealings.
honestly [adverb]
▪ I’m not convinced that the salesman dealt with us honestly.
▷ reputable /ˈrepjɑtəb ə l/ [adjective]
known to be honest, especially in your business activities :
▪ She had her antique vases valued by a reputable dealer.
▪ Before you buy a used car it’s best to go to a reputable garage.
▪ How do we know that all the firms involved in this deal are reputable?
▷ above suspicion /əˌbʌv səˈspɪʃ ə n/ [adjective phrase]
known to be very honest - use this especially about someone who is in a position in which it is important to be trusted :
▪ People who look after other people’s money should be above suspicion.
▪ During the investigation no one will be considered above suspicion.
▷ can trust /kən ˈtrʌst/ [verb phrase]
if you can trust someone, you are sure that they are honest and that you can depend on them :
▪ Beth’s an honest hardworking girl who I know I can trust.
can trust somebody to do something
▪ I knew I could trust Neil to look after the money.
2. someone who tells the truth
▷ honest /ˈɒnɪst, ˈɒnəstǁˈɑːn-/ [adjective]
someone who is honest says what they really think or what is really happening, and does not try to hide the truth or deceive people :
▪ You can always rely on Stewart to be honest.
honest about
▪ I don’t think she’s being completely honest about what she knows.
be honest with somebody
▪ All we are asking is that management be honest with us, even if the situation is difficult.
honest answer/reply etc
▪ Tell me where you were - and I want an honest answer.
honestly [adverb]
▪ Tell me honestly, are you in love with her?
▷ truthful /ˈtruːθf ə l/ [adjective]
someone who is truthful does not lie :
▪ As a child she was obedient and truthful.
▪ Not everyone believes the government is being truthful.
truthful about
▪ He has clearly not been truthful about the nature of their relationship.
be truthful with somebody
▪ I hope we can be truthful with each other.
truthful account/story/answer etc
▪ It is unlikely that a truthful account of conditions in the prison will ever be seen.
truthfully [adverb]
▪ Jackson claims he answered the questions truthfully.
▷ sincere /sɪnˈsɪəʳ/ [adjective]
showing your true feelings and what you really believe :
▪ She said she would love to come, but I wasn’t sure if she was being sincere.
▪ My client extends his sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt by his actions.
▷ frank /fræŋk/ [adjective]
talking in an honest and direct way, especially about subjects that are difficult to talk about :
▪ I’ll be frank with you - I don’t think you’re doing a very good job.
▪ Parents should not be afraid to have frank discussions about sex with their children.
frank about
▪ Graham was surprisingly frank about his feelings.
be frank with somebody
▪ The doctor was very frank with me and told me how serious my condition was.
frankly [adverb]
▪ Adams frankly admitted that he was disappointed with his team’s performance.
▷ open /ˈəʊpən/ [adjective]
honest, friendly, and happy to tell other people the truth, especially about things that other people might be embarrassed to talk about :
▪ Diana’s very easy to talk to because she’s so open.
▪ He’s a nice looking young man with an open, honest smile.
open about
▪ Greg has always been very open about his sexuality.
openly [adverb]
▪ People find it difficult to talk openly about death.
▷ direct /dɪˈrekt, dəˈrekt, daɪ-/ [adjective]
saying exactly what you think in an honest, clear way, even though this may sometimes annoy or upset other people :
▪ People were often scared of my father, who was very direct.
▪ With her direct manner and good head for business she was soon promoted.
directly [adverb]
▪ Dole spoke directly about his age, saying it was not a liability.
▷ up front /ʌp ˈfrʌnt/ [adjective phrase]
honest and willing to tell the truth, even if the truth is unpleasant :
▪ He’s always up front and willing to admit his mistakes.
up front about
▪ The company’s directors have been surprisingly up front about their financial problems.
be up front with somebody
▪ Karen is always very up front with her boyfriends.
▷ straight /streɪt/ [adjective] especially spoken
honest and likely to tell people exactly what you think or what is happening, without trying to hide anything :
▪ Tony Blair stated that he was ‘a pretty straight kind of guy’.
be straight with somebody
▪ I don’t care what you’ve done, Mike - just be straight with me.
straight answer
▪ I’ve asked several people what happened, but no one will give me a straight answer.
▷ candid /ˈkændɪd, ˈkændəd/ [adjective] especially written
honest about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of them :
▪ Lena is amusingly candid when she talks about the men in her life.
candid about
▪ The management team has been very candid about the problems the company is now facing.
candid discussion/conversation/comment etc
▪ She led a candid discussion about race relations in the city.
candidly [adverb]
▪ It can be useful to talk candidly about your feelings to someone.
3. so honest that some people think you are rude
▷ forthright /ˈfɔːʳθraɪt/ [adjective]
saying honestly what you think in a way that often seems rude :
▪ She was by nature forthright and impatient.
▪ Bruck’s forthright comments angered several people in the audience.
forthrightly [adverb]
▪ He continued to speak forthrightly about whatever was on his mind.
▷ blunt /blʌnt/ [adjective]
saying what is true or what you really think, especially in a situation in which other people would be more polite :
▪ His response was a blunt ‘no.’
▪ Maria can be very blunt and sometimes shocks people who don’t know her well.
bluntly [adverb]
▪ ‘If you don’t like your job here, you can leave,’ she said bluntly.
4. to speak honestly
▷ tell the truth /ˌtel ðə ˈtruːθ/ [verb phrase]
to be honest in what you say :
▪ He wouldn’t believe that I was telling the truth.
▪ When you testify in court, you have to swear to tell the truth.
tell somebody the truth
▪ Tell me the truth - does this dress make me look fat?
▷ to be honest (with you)/in all honesty /tə biː ˈɒnə̇st (wɪð juː)ǁ-ˈɑːn-, ɪn ˌɔːl ˈɒnə̇stiǁ-ˈɑːn-/ spoken
say this before giving your honest opinion, especially when your opinion may sound unkind or surprising :
▪ To be honest, I don’t really like babies.
▪ I wish I’d never met him, to be quite honest.
▪ To be honest with you, I never expected him to get the job.
▪ In all honesty, I’ve got no idea where she’s living now.
▷ to be frank/frankly /tə biː ˈfræŋk, ˈfræŋkli/ spoken
you say to be frank or frankly before giving your honest opinion, especially when your opinion may sound unkind or shocking :
▪ To be frank, George isn’t very good at the job.
▪ Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
▪ Well, frankly, I think this proves that there are a lot of people making laws in this country who don’t really know what they’re doing.
▷ level with /ˈlev ə l wɪð/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to be honest with someone, especially when they have asked you to give them the correct story, reason etc :
▪ I promise I won’t get angry. Just level with me and tell me what happened.
▪ I’m going to level with you - some of the other managers don’t think you’re ready for a promotion.
▷ tell it like it is/tell somebody straight /ˌtel ɪt laɪk ɪt ˈɪz, ˌtel somebody ˈstreɪt/ [verb phrase]
to be honest and give someone all the facts about a situation, even if they are unpleasant :
▪ I told her straight that she was wrong.
▪ The people who report to me have to be willing to tell it like it is.
▷ speak your mind /ˌspiːk jɔːʳ ˈmaɪnd/ [verb phrase]
to say exactly what you think even if it offends people :
▪ She believes in speaking her mind, which makes her very unpopular.
▪ Larry isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even in front of the boss.
▷ not mince (your) words /nɒt ˌmɪns (jɔːʳ) ˈwɜːʳdz/ [verb phrase not usually in progressive]
to say what you think in a way that you know might offend other people :
▪ Helmut didn’t mince any words in his criticism of the department.
▷ call a spade a spade /ˌkɔːl ə ˌspeɪd ə ˈspeɪd/ [verb phrase not usually in progressive]
to say exactly what you think about someone or something, especially in a situation where other people would be more polite :
▪ Why not call a spade a spade and say that she’s incompetent, if that’s what you’re thinking.
▷ pull no punches/not pull any punches /ˌpʊl nəʊ ˈpʌntʃə̇z, nɒt ˌpʊl eni ˈpʌntʃə̇z/ [verb phrase]
to speak honestly about someone or something, especially when you are criticizing them, without thinking about their feelings :
▪ Rollins pulled no punches in his memoir, especially when writing about the political system.
5. when someone behaves in an honest way
▷ honesty /ˈɒnɪsti, ˈɒnəstiǁˈɑːn-/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Are you questioning my honesty?
▪ Judy answered all the panel’s questions with honesty and courage.
▪ As a newspaper reporter I am committed to honesty and accuracy.
▷ sincerity /sɪnˈserɪti, sɪnˈserəti/ [uncountable noun]
when you say or do things in a way that shows clearly that you honestly mean them :
▪ ‘I’ll do anything I can to help,’ she said with sincerity.
▪ Nothing about his behavior leads me to doubt his sincerity.
▷ openness /ˈəʊpən-nɪs, ˈəʊpən-nəs/ [uncountable noun]
when you are honest, friendly and happy to tell people the truth about yourself, especially about things that other people might be embarrassed to talk about :
▪ Intimacy in a relationship requires openness.
▪ The public expects complete openness from the President about his health.
▷ candour British /candor American /ˈkændəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
when you are honest about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of them :
▪ Winik writes with great candor, which has won her a wide following.
▪ After so many lies from politicians, Dunbar’s candour is refreshing.
▷ integrity /ɪnˈtegrɪti, ɪnˈtegrəti/ [uncountable noun]
when you are very honest and always have the same moral principles in every situation :
▪ Councilman Hughey’s integrity is unquestioned.
man/woman of integrity
▪ She is a woman of integrity who has never abandoned her principles for the sake of making money.