honesty is the best policy

honesty is the best policy

proverb Telling the truth is always the best course of action, even when being dishonest would be easier or more useful. I think you should just explain what happened, rather than trying to cover your tracks. Honesty is the best policy, after all. Secrets like that will always find their way to the surface, so honesty is definitely the best policy.
See also: honesty, policy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Honesty is the best policy.

Prov. You should always tell the truth, even when it seems as if it would be useful to tell a lie. Jill: I borrowed Jane's white blouse without asking her, and then I spilled tomato sauce on it. Should I tell her what happened, or should I just put the blouse back in her closet and hope she won't notice? Jane: Honesty is the best policy.
See also: honesty, policy
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • beggar (all) description
  • beggar description
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
  • a woman's work is never done
References in periodicals archive
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Integrity and honesty make sound business sense, argued Barnum, because "no man can be dishonest without soon being found out and when his lack of principle is discovered, nearly every avenue to success is closed against him forever." Therefore, "as a mere matter of selfishness," he concluded, "honesty is the best policy."
St. Phineas
"Honesty is the best policy - when there is money in it."
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The House has adopted a resolution urging the Department of Education to post signs reading "Honesty is the Best Policy" in all elementary and high school classrooms in the country.
Take it from solons, honesty best policy
Bob Hattoy, an official with the Department of the Interior, says honesty is the best policy against smear campaigns.
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