Talking about Honesty in English
Being honest is a virtue, but describing honesty doesn’t always have to sound the same. Whether you want to describe someone as sincere, straightforward, or brutally honest, English offers a treasure trove of words and expressions to capture the exact shade of meaning. In this post, you will learn alternative words for honest, useful collocations, and natural expressions and idioms that will make your English sound more fluent, colourful, and precise—perfect for writing, speaking exams like B2 First or C1 Advanced, or everyday conversations. Talking about honesty in English
Other ways to say “honest”
| Word | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Truthful | always saying what is true | She gave a truthful account of what happened. |
| Sincere | genuine and without pretending | I could tell his apology was sincere. |
| Frank | open and direct, even if it’s unpleasant | To be frank, I don’t think your idea will work. |
| Straightforward | honest and easy to understand or deal with | She’s very straightforward – you always know where you stand. |
| Candid | open and honest, especially about something difficult | He was candid about his mistakes during the meeting. |
| Genuine | truly what something is said to be; sincere | I believe her emotions were genuine. |
| Upfront | honest, often about something difficult | He was upfront about the costs involved. |
| Open | not hiding feelings or thoughts | She’s always open with her friends. |
| Blunt | honest to the point of rudeness | He’s a bit blunt, but he means well. |
Talking about Honesty in English
Common collocations with “honest” and related words
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Honest mistake | a mistake made unintentionally, without bad intentions. | I made an honest mistake—there was no intention to deceive anyone. |
| Honest opinion | a sincere and truthful personal opinion. | Do you want my honest opinion, or should I sugar-coat it? |
| Honest living | earning money legally and through hard work. | He earns an honest living as a mechanic. |
| Brutally honest | so honest that it might sound rude or harsh. | She was brutally honest about my cooking. |
| Open and honest | transparent and truthful, especially in communication. | Let’s have an open and honest discussion. |
| Frank discussion | a direct, truthful conversation, even if it’s uncomfortable. | We had a frank discussion about our future. |
| Candid interview | an interview where someone speaks openly and honestly. | The actor gave a candid interview about his struggles. |
| Genuine smile | a real, heartfelt smile (not fake or forced). | You can tell that was a genuine smile. |
| Upfront about something | honest and direct about a situation or intention, usually from the beginning. | She was upfront about her plans to resign. |
Talking about honesty in English
Expressions and idioms related to honesty
| Expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
| To tell it like it is | say something in a direct, honest way | She tells it like it is, even if it upsets people. |
| To be straight with someone | to be honest and direct | Just be straight with me—are you leaving the company? |
| To call a spade a spade | say the truth, even if it’s harsh | I admire him because he calls a spade a spade. |
| To come clean (about something) | to admit the truth | He finally came clean about his involvement. |
| To be an open book | to be easy to understand and transparent | She’s an open book—you always know how she’s feeling. |
| To have nothing to hide | to be fully honest and transparent | I’ve got nothing to hide—ask me anything. |
| Honesty is the best policy | a well-known saying meaning being honest is always the right choice | My parents always taught me that honesty is the best policy. |
Talking about honesty in English
Tip for learners
Don’t just memorise these words and expressions—use them! Try writing a short paragraph or dialogue using at least 3 of these synonyms and 2 expressions. The more personal and creative, the better your retention!
In English, honesty can take many forms—from being sincere to blunt, from genuine to upfront. Whether you’re describing a person or sharing your thoughts, the right word can help you sound more fluent, natural, and emotionally accurate.
Talking about honesty in English
If you really want to learn English but don’t know how to do it and where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Tap the banner to learn more!
Discover more from My Lingua Academy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
0 Comments