Truth be told
Example: Truth be told, I really enjoyed the movie last night.
Definition
"Truth be told" is an expression used to introduce an honest or frank statement, often revealing a fact or opinion that might be surprising or previously undisclosed. It signals that what follows is the genuine truth according to the speaker's perspective.
Etymology
The phrase "truth be told" originates from a more formal construction meaning 'if the truth is told.' It comes from the old English use of subjunctive mood, where 'be' is used instead of 'is.' Over time, it became a common idiomatic expression to emphasize honesty or frankness in speech.
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"Truth be told" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 130 commonly used expressions.
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