be honest

/biː ˈɒnɪst/

tell the truth

You should be honest about your feelings.

This means you should express your true emotions without hiding them.

informal

To tell the truth or express genuine thoughts without deception.

Be honest with me—did you break the vase?

This means asking someone to truthfully admit to an action.

She was honest about her mistakes in the meeting.

This shows someone acknowledging their errors openly.

This phrase is commonly used to encourage truthfulness in personal or professional settings.

Collocations

be honest withto tell the truth to someone specificbe honest aboutto be truthful regarding a particular topic

to say what is factually accurate

to admit to something dishonest

Use 'be honest' to gently prompt someone to share the truth, especially in sensitive conversations.

This phrase is direct and can be used in both casual and formal contexts, but tone matters—soften it with 'please' if needed.

Derived from the Old English 'honest' (meaning 'virtuous, honorable'), combined with the verb 'be' to form an imperative phrase.

This phrase is often used to encourage someone to speak truthfully, especially in situations where honesty is important.

to exist or act in a certain way

verb

honest

truthful, sincere

adjective

English Dictionary