to be honest
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
To be honest, I don't understand it.Thật lòng mà nói, tôi không hiểu.
Tatoeba sentence #5017549 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Equivalents & related
Common questions
What does “to be honest” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “to be honest” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“thật sự mà nói” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.