frank
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++frank1 /fræŋk/ ●●○ adjective 1 HONESThonest and truthful 坦率的，坦诚的，直言不讳的be frank with somebody He was completely frank with her about what happened. 对于发生的一切，他都对她坦言相告。be frank about something She was quite frank about the whole thing. 她对整件事直言不讳。frank discussion/interview/exchange of views etc 坦诚的讨论/访谈/意见交换等► see thesaurus at honest2 to be frank spokenHONEST used when you are going to say something that is true, but which other people may not like 坦白说，坦率地说 To be perfectly frank, I think it’s a bad idea. 老实说，我认为这个主意不好。 —frankness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
frank• But he was also wonderfully ungovernable and frank.• Graham was surprisingly frank about his feelings.• Cronkite is perfectly frank about how much he enjoyed the non-journalistic benefits of national stardom.• Such a man, with this talent and his frank and fearless looks, was made for espionage.• She sounded frank, dead calm.• But what Peter saw as fuzzy thinking, others saw as a frank difference in theological points of view.• Parents should not be afraid to have frank discussions about sex with their children.• Her attitude to us is very frank, for which we are glad.• To be frank, I was a bit upset with the way it finished.• Let me be frank, Mr President.• In an unusually frank speech, Glenn acknowledged the gravity of the economic situation.• The doctor was very frank with me and told me how serious my condition was.• I'll be frank with you - I don't think you're doing a very good job.be frank with somebody• I warn him that the subject will not go away until he is frank with the House and the country.• If farmers are frank with themselves they will also recognize that paternalism is cheap.• I will be frank with you.frank2 verb [transitive] TCMto print a sign on an envelope showing that the cost of sending it has been paid 在〔信封〕上盖邮资已付戳记 → franking machine→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
frank• The Divisional Court felt that the copy documents which the solicitor had prepared for counsel were necessarily franked by professional privilege.• One morning a franked official letter from the state capitol arrived.• In 1987, the consensus is that everything must be stamped with soul and franked with passion.frank3 noun [countable] American English a frankfurter 法兰克福熏肠From Longman Business Dictionaryfrankfrank /fræŋk/ verb [transitive] to print a sign on an envelope or package to show that the cost of sending it has been paidAll mail for despatch should be franked.If the volume of mail is high, afranking machine can save time.→ See Verb tableOrigin frank1 (1300-1400) French “free, generous”, from Late Latin Francus “Frank” (because the Franks, an ancient German people, were given political freedom in France) frank2 (1700-1800) → FRANK1 frank3 (1900-2000) frankfurtertruthful honest Corpus Business and
See frankfurter for more
frank
frank1 /fræŋk/ 
adjective
be frank with somebody
He was completely frank with her about what happened.
be frank about something
She was quite frank about the whole thing.
frank discussion/interview/exchange of views etc
2. to be frank spoken used when you are going to say something that is true, but which other people may not like:
To be perfectly frank, I think it’s a bad idea.
—frankness noun [uncountable]
■ not hiding the truth or the facts
▪honest saying what you really think and not hiding the truth or the facts: I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me. | an honest answer | To be honest, I didn’t think his speech was very good.
▪straight informal honest and saying what you really think: I can’t help you if you’re not straight with me. | I need a straight answer.
▪open willing to talk about what you think, feel etc in an honest way, rather than trying to hide it: People have become more open about their feelings. | She’s very easy to talk to because she’s so open.
▪frank speaking honestly and directly about something, especially something that people find difficult to discuss: In his book, he’s brutally frank about his experience with his illness. | a frank discussion about sex
▪direct saying exactly what you think in an honest clear way, even when this might annoy or upset people: Not everyone liked his direct manner. | She can be very direct.
▪blunt speaking in a completely honest way, even if it upsets people, when it would be better to be more careful or polite: Sorry if I was a bit blunt with you. | His hard tone and blunt words were hurtful. | She didn’t reply and I knew I had been too blunt.
▪upfront [not before noun] informal talking and behaving in an honest way, even when it is difficult to do this, in a way that people respect: It’s best to be upfront about your financial problems. | You have to be upfront with kids.
▪outspoken expressing your opinions publicly in a very direct way, which may offend or annoy some people: an outspoken critic of the government | He was known for his outspoken views on various controversies.
▪forthright formal saying exactly what what you think, without being afraid of what other people will think: The opposition have not come up with a clear forthright statement of their policies. | At times, Helena was a little too forthright.
▪candid formal honest about the facts, or about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of them: He’d always been completely candid about his past. | It was an unusually candid admission for a politician.
frank2 verb [transitive]to print a sign on an envelope showing that the cost of sending it has been paid ⇨ franking machine
frank3 noun [countable] American English
| I |
adjective Date: 1300-1400
Language: French
Origin: 'free, generous', from Late Latin Francus 'Frank' (because the Franks, an ancient German people, were given political freedom in France)
1. honest and truthfulLanguage: French
Origin: 'free, generous', from Late Latin Francus 'Frank' (because the Franks, an ancient German people, were given political freedom in France)
be frank with somebody
be frank about something
frank discussion/interview/exchange of views etc
2. to be frank spoken used when you are going to say something that is true, but which other people may not like:
—frankness noun [uncountable]
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verb [transitive]to print a sign on an envelope showing that the cost of sending it has been paid ⇨ franking machine| III |
noun [countable] American English Date: 1900-2000
Origin: frankfurter
a frankfurter
Origin: frankfurter
Frank
Frank, Anne
(1929–45) a Jewish girl from Germany, who went to live in Holland with her family to escape from the Nazis. She wrote a famous diary, in which she describes her life while she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The family was eventually discovered, and sent to the concentration camp at Belsen, where most of them were killed. Her diary was published(publish) after her death.
Frank, Anne
(1929–45) a Jewish girl from Germany, who went to live in Holland with her family to escape from the Nazis. She wrote a famous diary, in which she describes her life while she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The family was eventually discovered, and sent to the concentration camp at Belsen, where most of them were killed. Her diary was published(publish) after her death.
honest not hiding the truth about sth 指坦率的、坦诚的 ：◆ Thank you for being so honest with me. 感谢你对我这么坦诚。 frank honest in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like 指坦率的、直率的（有时可能不讨人喜欢） ：◆ To be frank with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam. 坦白说，我认为你的儿子不大可能通过考试。 direct saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand 指直接的、直率的、坦率的 ：◆ You'll have to get used to his direct manner. 你得慢慢习惯他这种直率的方式。 NOTE Being direct is sometimes considered positive but sometimes it is used as a 'polite' way of saying that sb is rude.* direct 有时被认为含褒义，但有时是以礼貌的方式表示某人有些粗鲁。 open ( (of a person) not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden指为人诚恳的、坦诚的、直率的 ：◆ He was quite open about his reasons for leaving. 他对离开的原因完全未加隐瞒。 outspoken saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people 指直率的、坦诚的、直言不讳的 ：◆ She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan. 她对该计划的批评直言不讳。 straight honest and direct 指坦诚的、直率的 ：◆ I don't think you're being straight with me. 我觉得你没跟我坦诚相见。 blunt saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite 指嘴直的、直言不讳的 ：◆ She has a reputation for blunt speaking. 她说话出了名的直截了当。
which word? 词语辨析
Honest andfrank refer towhat you say as much ashow you say it.* honest 和 frank 既形容说话方式，也指说话内容 ：◆ a(n) honest/frank admission of guilt 坦承有罪 They are generally positive words, although it is possible to be too frank in a way that other people might not like.Direct ,outspoken andblunt all describe sb's manner of saying what they think.Outspoken suggests that you are willing to shock people by saying what you believe to be right.Blunt anddirect often suggest that you think honesty is more important than being polite.Open is positive and describes sb's character.这两个词通常用作褒义词，但有时也可能指过于直率而使人不快。direct、outspoken 和 blunt 均指说话直截，其中 outspoken 表示宁可冒犯他人也要直抒己见；blunt 和 direct 常表示说话人认为诚实比礼貌重要；open 含褒义，用来形容人的性格 ：◆ I'm a very open person. 我这个人非常坦诚直率。
Patterns
honest/frank/direct/open/outspoken/straight about sthhonest/frank/direct/open/straight/blunt with sba(n) honest/direct/straight/blunt answer a frank/direct/blunt manner