Example: Om eerlijk te zijn, vind ik dit boek niet leuk.
Definition
"Om eerlijk te zijn" is a Dutch phrase used to express honesty or frankness before stating an opinion or fact. It translates to 'to be honest' or 'honestly' in English and often introduces a candid or sincere remark, as in 'Om eerlijk te zijn, vind ik dit boek niet leuk.'
The phrase "om eerlijk te zijn" literally means 'to be honest' in Dutch. It combines 'om' (to), 'eerlijk' (honest), and 'te zijn' (to be). This expression reflects a common linguistic pattern in Dutch to indicate sincerity, similar to English phrases like 'to be honest.' Did you know it is often used to soften criticism or express personal views politely?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Om eerlijk te zijn" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B1) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to be honest