Truth, Secrecy, & Deception - Truthfulness

Dive into English idioms regarding truthfulness, like "make a clean breast of" and "come out the wash".

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to behave in a way that reveals who a person truly is as opposed to whom they seem to be

Ex: In the face of adversity , she showed her true colors by remaining resilient and demonstrating unwavering determination .

to honestly share one's thoughts, feelings, or plans

Ex: Before entering into the partnership , they agreed to put their cards on the table and share their long-term objectives and strategies .

on the level [phrase]

truthfully and without any deception

Ex: The witness testified in court , vowing to tell the truth and nothing but the truth , ensuring that their testimony was on the level .

to [cross] {one's} heart [phrase]

to swear that one is telling the truth about something or is going to do something as promised

Ex: The child crossed her heart and declared that she had not eaten the last cookie , despite the crumbs on her face .

to make a confession about what one has done wrong or lied about, especially to gain relief

Ex: In the therapy session , she made a clean breast of her past trauma , opening up about the experiences that had haunted her for years .

to [come] clean [phrase]

to finally reveal or admit the truth about something

Ex: Realizing the importance of honesty , she came clean to her partner about her past and shared her complete history .

to [take|blow] the lid off {sth} [phrase]

to make known an unpleasant truth about something

Ex: The leaked documents took the lid off the company 's unethical practices , damaging its reputation and prompting regulatory scrutiny .

the birds and (the|) bees [phrase]

a conversation with children about disturbing topics like where babies come from or what is the goal of marriage are being discussed

Ex: When my son asked where babies come from , I decided it was time to have a conversation about the birds and the bees .

on the up and up [phrase]

in a way that involves no deception or rule violations

Ex: The lawyer advised his client to handle the legal matter on the up and up , following all the legal procedures diligently .

home truth [noun]

an unpleasant, yet truthful information someone reveals or points out about one

Ex: It took a close friend 's honest conversation to reveal some home truths about my self-destructive habits .

to [come] out in the wash [phrase]

(of a hidden fact) to be eventually revealed or discovered

Ex: This will all come out in the wash – I promise you .