Truthfulness: English Vocabulary List

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

"He showed his true colors."

"When the company faced financial difficulties, the manager showed his true colors by blaming everyone else for his own mistakes."

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

"Let's put our cards on the table."

"After months of negotiation, they finally decided to lay their cards on the table."

truthfully and without any deception

"Is he on the level?"

"I think our new accountant is on the level but we should still check his credentials carefully."

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

"Cross my heart, I am telling the truth."

"I promise I will be there on time cross my heart and hope to die."

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

"He made a clean breast of his mistake."

"The criminal finally made a clean breast of everything and confessed to all the crimes he had committed."

to finally reveal or admit the truth about something

"You need to come clean."

"The guilty employee finally decided to come clean and admitted to stealing money from the company cash box."

to make known an unpleasant truth about something

"They blew the lid off the scandal."

"The investigative journalist managed to blow the lid off the government corruption scandal with her brave reporting."

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

"My dad told me about the birds and the bees."

"The father had an awkward conversation with his son about the birds and the bees when he turned twelve years old."

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

"She told him a few home truths."

"His friend told him a few home truths about his arrogant behavior and drinking problem."

to eventually resolve without intervention, typically after a period of time

"Don't worry, it will come out in the wash."

"All these minor problems will eventually come out in the wash if we just remain patient."

in a way that involves no deception or rule violations

"This is on the up and up."

"You can trust him; his business dealings are always completely on the up and up."

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

"It will come out in the wash."

"Don't worry too much about minor discrepancies; most of these issues will likely come out in the wash during the final audit."