Example: Om eerlijk te zijn, vond ik het boek niet zo leuk.
Definition
"Om eerlijk te zijn" is a Dutch expression used to introduce a statement that conveys honesty or sincerity, often implying a candid or straightforward opinion. For example, it might be used to preface a personal judgment or admission.
The phrase "om eerlijk te zijn" literally translates to 'to be honest' in English. It combines 'om' (to), 'eerlijk' (honest), and 'te zijn' (to be). This phrase has been used in Dutch for centuries to signal honesty, similar to its English counterpart. Did you know? Its structure reflects the common Dutch way of forming infinitive expressions.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Om eerlijk te zijn" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A1) - set 1", containing 109 commonly used expressions.
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to be honest