hon ‧ est S1 W3 /ˈɒnəst, ˈɒnɪst $ ˈɑːn-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ honesty ≠ ↑ dishonesty ; adverb : ↑ honestly ≠ ↑ dishonestly ; adjective : ↑ honest ≠ ↑ dishonest ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: honeste , from Latin honestus , from honor ; ⇨ ↑ honor ]
1 . CHARACTER someone who is honest always tells the truth and does not cheat or steal OPP dishonest :
He was a hard-working honest man.
Ann had an honest face.
2 . STATEMENT/ANSWER ETC not hiding the truth or the facts about something SYN frank :
Do you want my honest opinion?
an honest answer
Let’s be honest: the only reason she married him was for his money.
honest with
At least he was honest with you.
honest about
She was always very honest about her feelings.
⇨ see Thesaurus box on P. 844
3 . to be honest (with you) spoken used when you tell someone what you really think:
To be honest, I don’t like him very much.
4 . honest! spoken used to try to make someone believe you:
I didn’t mean to hurt him, honest!
5 . honest to God spoken used to emphasize that something you say is true:
Honest to God, I wasn’t there.
6 . WORK honest work is done using your own efforts and without cheating:
I bet he’s never done an honest day’s work in his life!
I’m just trying to earn an honest living.
7 . ORDINARY GOOD PEOPLE honest people are not famous or special, but behave in a good, socially acceptable way:
She came from a good honest working-class background.
8 . make an honest woman (out) of somebody old-fashioned to marry a woman because you have had a sexual relationship with her
• • •
THESAURUS
■ not cheating, stealing, lying etc
▪ honest always saying what is true, and not cheating, stealing etc:
I liked them because they were good honest people.
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You can trust Noah – he’s totally honest.
▪ reputable known to be honest and good in your business or work – used about people, companies, or organizations:
It’s best to buy from a reputable company.
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They were highly reputable sports physicians.
▪ above board [not before noun] honest and legal – used about the way something is done, organized etc:
The deal was entirely above board.
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Was the voting in the elections above board?
▪ upright written always behaving in an honest way:
an upright citizen
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George was an upright man from a military family.
■ not hiding the truth or the facts
▪ honest saying what you really think and not hiding the truth or the facts:
I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me.
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an honest answer
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To be honest, I didn’t think his speech was very good.
▪ straight informal honest and saying what you really think:
I can’t help you if you’re not straight with me.
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I need a straight answer.
▪ open willing to talk about what you think, feel etc in an honest way, rather than trying to hide it:
People have become more open about their feelings.
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She’s very easy to talk to because she’s so open.
▪ frank speaking honestly and directly about something, especially something that people find difficult to discuss:
In his book, he’s brutally frank about his experience with his illness.
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a frank discussion about sex
▪ direct saying exactly what you think in an honest clear way, even when this might annoy or upset people:
Not everyone liked his direct manner.
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She can be very direct.
▪ blunt speaking in a completely honest way, even if it upsets people, when it would be better to be more careful or polite:
Sorry if I was a bit blunt with you.
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His hard tone and blunt words were hurtful.
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She didn’t reply and I knew I had been too blunt.
▪ upfront [not before noun] informal talking and behaving in an honest way, even when it is difficult to do this, in a way that people respect:
It’s best to be upfront about your financial problems.
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You have to be upfront with kids.
▪ outspoken expressing your opinions publicly in a very direct way, which may offend or annoy some people:
an outspoken critic of the government
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He was known for his outspoken views on various controversies.
▪ forthright formal saying exactly what what you think, without being afraid of what other people will think:
The opposition have not come up with a clear forthright statement of their policies.
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At times, Helena was a little too forthright.
▪ candid formal honest about the facts, or about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of them:
He’d always been completely candid about his past.
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It was an unusually candid admission for a politician.