# tell the truth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tell-the-truth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used to positively assert the frank honesty of an associated statement of set of statements; equivalent to "to tell the truth".

## Examples

- To tell the truth, I forgot about the meeting.
- I was nervous about the interview, but to tell the truth, the questions were much easier than I expected.
- To tell the truth, the project failed not because of a lack of effort, but because the underlying strategy was fundamentally flawed from the beginning.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.