To be honest
Example: To be honest, I don't like eating broccoli.
Definition
"To be honest" is a phrase used to express sincerity or truthfulness in what follows, often signaling that the speaker is about to share a candid or straightforward opinion. For example, "To be honest, I don't like eating broccoli" indicates genuine personal feelings.
Etymology
The phrase "to be honest" originates from the adjective "honest," which comes from the Latin word "honestus," meaning honorable or respectable. Over time, "to be honest" evolved as a conversational expression to preface truthful or sincere statements, emphasizing the speaker's integrity. Did you know? The use of "honest" in speech as a prelude to truthfulness has been common since the Middle Ages.
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"To be honest" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A2) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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