Phrase guide

tell the truth

phrase · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tell, truth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 老實說 /老实说 (lǎoshíshuō) — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Finnish: totta puhuen — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • French: pour être honnête — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Ancient Greek: ἀληθεύω (alētheúō) — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Hungarian: az igazat megvallva — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Hungarian: őszintén szólva — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Hungarian: igazság szerint — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Hungarian: az az igazság, hogy — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Polish: szczerze mówiąc — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Russian: че́стно говоря́ (čéstno govorjá) — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Spanish: decir la verdad — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Swedish: ärligt talat — asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement
  • Arabic: صَدَقَ (ṣadaqa) — to tell the truth
  • French: dire la vérité — to tell the truth
  • Hungarian: igazat mond — to tell the truth
  • Polish: mówić prawdę — to tell the truth
  • Polish: powiedzieć prawdę — to tell the truth