the honest truth

the honest truth

The sincere, unadulterated truth. I swear it wasn't me who broke the lamp, that's the honest truth! The honest truth is that I don't really see this relationship working out in the long run.
See also: honest, truth
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • God's honest truth
  • honest to God
  • honest to God/goodness
  • make an honest buck
  • earn an honest buck
  • an honest buck
  • honest to a fault
  • an honest broker
  • (if the) truth be told
  • (if the) truth be known
References in classic literature
Riach, "and if he did, I'll tell ye the honest truth, we couldnae get the men to follow."
I tell you the honest truth when I say I could squander away as many as a dozen feasts like this and never care THAT for the expense!" and I snapped my fingers.
"I know it; but to tell the honest truth we was kinder - kinder driftin' when we run ag'in' young Olley."
"Well," that gentleman answered, "to tell you the honest truth, Miss Morse, I'm afraid I am going to disappoint you a little.
In the daytime, when I listened attentively, I could hear, even through the boards, the voices of the demoiselles in their hours of recreation, and, to speak the honest truth, my sentimental reflections were occasionally a trifle disarranged by the not quite silvery, in fact the too often brazen sounds, which, rising from the unseen paradise below, penetrated clamorously into my solitude.
Tom colored up and looked hurt for a minute, then seemed to right himself with a shrug, and said, in his outspoken way, "To tell the honest truth, Polly, it was not a very hard one.
I say to the man of this young person's heart, out of my heart and with all of it, "My blessing on this engagement betwixt you, and she brings you a good fortune when she brings you the poverty she has accepted for your sake and the honest truth's!"'
So the sooner he goes, the better for him, and the sooner I go, the better for me, I am sure, or else I shall have my maid gallivanting with somebody who may rob the house--though what there is to take away, besides tables and chairs, I don't know, except the miniatures: and he is a clever thief who can dispose of them to any great advantage, for I can't, I know, and that's the honest truth.'
And to confess the honest truth, he needed the whole; for now the Minotaur, turning suddenly about, caught sight of Theseus, and instantly lowered his horribly sharp horns, exactly as a mad bull does when he means to rush against an enemy.
Author Nigel West has written a book about its early years - here he tells Stevie Gallacher The Honest Truth about the British Secret Service What prompted the formation of the Security Service?
"The honest truth is I'm not sure about his work ethic and so I think he could become exposed quite quickly, if we're given the chance to adequately put him under scrutiny.
Johnson explained: "I've never been more excited about a pre-season in my life, that's the honest truth.
"What I said is the honest truth," said Farah, who could not live with the blistering pace set by Kipchoge who won in 2hr 2min 37sec.
No, the honest truth is we're the best of friends now.
It's the honest truth, we look at each game at a time.