In our quest for clarity and understanding, the concept of truth often surfaces as a fundamental element. This post explores twenty idioms that encapsulate the various facets of truth, offering a linguistic lens through which we can express and recognize sincerity, reality, and authenticity in our everyday conversations.
1. The naked truth
Meaning: Pure, unadulterated truth
Example: She told the naked truth.
2. Gospel truth
Meaning: Absolutely true
Example: He spoke the gospel truth.
3. In vino veritas
Meaning: Truth comes out when drunk
Example: After two glasses, in vino veritas.
4. Bitter truth
Meaning: Unpleasant but true
Example: He faced the bitter truth.
5. Home truth
Meaning: Uncomfortable truth about oneself
Example: She heard a home truth.
6. Moment of truth
Meaning: Critical or decisive time
Example: It was his moment of truth.
7. Nothing but the truth
Meaning: Only the truth
Example: She promised nothing but the truth.
8. Stretch the truth
Meaning: Exaggerate the truth
Example: He tends to stretch the truth.
9. Ugly truth
Meaning: Harsh reality
Example: They revealed the ugly truth.
10. God’s honest truth
Meaning: Absolute truth
Example: I’m telling the God’s honest truth.
11. To swear to the truth
Meaning: Promise it’s true
Example: He swore to the truth.
12. Universal truth
Meaning: Accepted by everyone
Example: It’s a universal truth.
13. Veritable truth
Meaning: Absolute, true statement
Example: She spoke the veritable truth.
14. The truth will out
Meaning: Truth will become known
Example: Eventually, the truth will out.
15. Your truth
Meaning: One’s personal perspective
Example: Speak your truth at the meeting.
16. Economical with the truth
Meaning: Partially true
Example: He was economical with the truth.
17. White lie
Meaning: Harmless or small lie
Example: It was just a white lie.
18. Hard truth
Meaning: Difficult reality
Example: They accepted the hard truth.
19. Honest to goodness
Meaning: Truly or really
Example: It’s an honest to goodness fact.
20. True to form
Meaning: Behaving as expected
Example: She was true to form.