honest
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++hon·est /ˈɒnɪst $ ˈɑːn-/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective 1 character 品质HONEST someone who is honest always tells the truth and does not cheat or steal 诚实的，正直的 OPP dishonest He was a hard-working honest man. 他勤奋老实。 Ann had an honest face. 安有一张诚实的面孔。2 HONESTstatement/answer etc 讲话/回答等 not hiding the truth or the facts about something 坦诚的，直率的，不隐瞒真相的 SYN frank Do you want my honest opinion? 想不想听听我的真实意见？ an honest answer 坦率的回答 Let’s be honest: the only reason she married him was for his money. 说实话，她嫁给他就是为了他的钱。honest with At least he was honest with you. 起码他对你是诚实的。honest about She was always very honest about her feelings. 她从不隐瞒自己的感情。 → see Thesaurus box on 0000003 to be honest (with you) spokenHONEST used when you tell someone what you really think （跟你）说实话，老实说 To be honest, I don’t like him very much. 老实说，我不太喜欢他。n4. → honest!5 honest to God spokenTRUE used to emphasize that something you say is true 确实，千真万确〔用于强调所说的话是真实的〕 Honest to God, I wasn’t there. 我当时确实不在那儿。6 work 工作HONEST honest work is done using your own efforts and without cheating 用正当手段的，努力认真的 I bet he’s never done an honest day’s work in his life! 我敢说他这辈子从未认认真真工作过一天！ I’m just trying to earn an honest living. 我只想要堂堂正正谋生。7 ordinary good people 普通的好人GOOD ENOUGH honest people are not famous or special, but behave in a good, socially acceptable way 老实的；规矩的 She came from a good honest working-class background. 她出身于一个正派的工薪阶层家庭。8. make an honest woman (out) of somebody old-fashionedMARRY to marry a woman because you have had a sexual relationship with her 和发生了性关系的女人结婚 THESAURUSnot cheating, stealing, lying etc 不欺骗、不偷盗、不撒谎等honest always saying what is true, and not cheating, stealing etc 诚实的，正直的I liked them because they were good honest people. 我喜欢他们是因为他们是正直的好人。You can trust Noah – he’s totally honest. 你可以信任诺厄——他绝对诚实。reputable known to be honest and good in your business or work – used about people, companies, or organizations 〔人、公司或机构〕声誉好的，有信誉的 It’s best to buy from a reputable company. 最好向声誉好的公司购买。nThey were highly reputable sports physicians.above board [not before noun] honest and legal – used about the way something is done, organized etc 〔做事、组织等的方式〕光明正大的The deal was entirely above board. 这笔生意做得完全光明正大。Was the voting in the elections above board? 这笔生意做得完全光明正大。upright written always behaving in an honest way 正直的，诚实的an upright citizen 正直的公民George was an upright man from a military family. 乔治出身于军人家庭，为人正直。not hiding the truth or the facts 不隐瞒真相或事实honest saying what you really think and not hiding the truth or the facts 坦诚的，直率的I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me. 我要问你点事——希望你对我说真话。an honest answer 坦率的回答nTo be honest, I didn’t think his speech was very good.straight informal honest and saying what you really think 诚实的，直率的I can’t help you if you’re not straight with me. 如果你不和我说实话，我是帮不了你的。I need a straight answer. 我需要诚实的回答。open willing to talk about what you think, feel etc in an honest way, rather than trying to hide it 坦率的，坦诚的People have become more open about their feelings. 人们对自己的感受已变得更为坦诚了。She’s very easy to talk to because she’s so open. 她非常坦诚，所以好说话。frank speaking honestly and directly about something, especially something that people find difficult to discuss 坦率的，直言不讳的In his book, he’s brutally frank about his experience with his illness. 在书中，他对自己的患病经历直言不讳。a frank discussion about sex 对性的坦率讨论direct saying exactly what you think in an honest clear way, even when this might annoy or upset people 坦率的，直言的〔可能令人生气〕Not everyone liked his direct manner. 并非每个人都喜欢他率直的态度。She can be very direct. 她有时相当直截了当。blunt speaking in a completely honest way, even if it upsets people, when it would be better to be more careful or polite 〔说话〕不客气的，直言不讳的Sorry if I was a bit blunt with you. 要是我有些唐突请见谅。His hard tone and blunt words were hurtful. 他严厉的语调和生硬的言辞很伤人。nShe 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 坦率的，诚实的It’s best to be upfront about your financial problems. 你最好坦率说出自己的财务问题。nYou have to be upfront with kids.noutspoken expressing your opinions publicly in a very direct way, which may offend or annoy some peoplean outspoken critic of the governmentHe was known for his outspoken views on various controversies.nforthright formal saying exactly what what you think, without being afraid of what other people will thinkThe 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 坦诚的，直言不讳的He’d always been completely candid about his past. 他对自己的过去一向毫不讳言。nIt was an unusually candid admission for a politician.Examples from the Corpus
honest• She horrifies me, to be honest.• As the job involves handling large amounts of money, it's essential that our workers are honest.• You can always rely on Stewart to be honest.• I don't think she's being completely honest about what she knows.• He is being honest and honesty is such a rare quality in a performer that the audience are stunned.• Tell me where you were - and I want an honest answer.• It's probably the only honest bit of politics left.• a fair and honest businessman• They also need to be embarrassed and confronted by their honest countrymen.• They were good, honest, hard-working people.• She was scrupulously honest in all her business dealings.• The attendant was entirely honest in his answers to my questions and in the amount of fuel he pumped.• They are flash people who have money to throw about, and not all the money they throw about is honest money.• You need to have an honest opinion of yourself.• That was the most honest part of her.• He's one of the few honest politicians we have left.• Recommending a strong secretary-general can sound like touting safe airlines or honest stockbrokers.• All we are asking is that management be honest with us, even if the situation is difficult.Let’s be honest• Let's be honest about our failings.• Your options, let's be honest, are few.• Let's be honest, I was conceived in glasses.• But let's be honest, they're like bath water.earn an honest living• Occasionally I earned an honest living.• The things we all do to earn an honest living.nhonest!spokenTRUE used to try to make someone believe you 真的！不骗你！ I didn’t mean to hurt him, honest! 我不是故意伤害他的，真的！Examples from the Corpus
honest!• I didn't mean to hurt him, honest!Origin honest (1200-1300) Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor; → HONORhon·est adjective →THESAURUS1honest!LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
tells the is truth and always honest Corpus someone who
honest
hon‧est S1 W3 /ˈɒnəst, ˈɒnɪst $ ˈɑːn-/
adjective
OPP dishonest:
He was a hard-working honest man.
Ann had an honest face.
2. STATEMENT/ANSWER ETC not hiding the truth or the facts about something
SYN frank:
Do you want my honest opinion?
an honest answer
Let’s be honest : the only reason she married him was for his money.
honest with
At least he was honest with you.
honest about
She was always very honest about her feelings. ⇨ see Thesaurus box on P. 844
3. to be honest (with you) spoken used when you tell someone what you really think:
To be honest, I don’t like him very much.
4. honest! spoken used to try to make someone believe you:
I didn’t mean to hurt him, honest!
5. honest to God spoken used to emphasize that something you say is true:
Honest to God, I wasn’t there.
6. WORK honest work is done using your own efforts and without cheating:
I bet he’s never done an honest day’s work in his life!
I’m just trying to earn an honest living.
7. ORDINARY GOOD PEOPLE honest people are not famous or special, but behave in a good, socially acceptable way:
She came from a good honest working-class background.
8. make an honest woman (out) of somebody old-fashioned to marry a woman because you have had a sexual relationship with her
■ not cheating, stealing, lying etc
▪honest always saying what is true, and not cheating, stealing etc: I liked them because they were good honest people. | You can trust Noah – he’s totally honest.
▪reputable known to be honest and good in your business or work – used about people, companies, or organizations: It’s best to buy from a reputable company. | They were highly reputable sports physicians.
▪above board [not before noun] honest and legal – used about the way something is done, organized etc: The deal was entirely above board. | Was the voting in the elections above board?
▪upright written always behaving in an honest way: an upright citizen | George was an upright man from a military family.
■ 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.
hon‧est S1 W3 /ˈɒnəst, ˈɒnɪst $ ˈɑːn-/
adjective Word Family: noun: honesty ≠ dishonesty; adverb: honestly ≠ dishonestly; adjective: honest ≠ dishonest
1. CHARACTER someone who is honest always tells the truth and does not cheat or steal OPP dishonest:
2. STATEMENT/ANSWER ETC not hiding the truth or the facts about something
SYN frank:
honest with
honest about
3. to be honest (with you) spoken used when you tell someone what you really think:
4. honest! spoken used to try to make someone believe you:
5. honest to God spoken used to emphasize that something you say is true:
6. WORK honest work is done using your own efforts and without cheating:
7. ORDINARY GOOD PEOPLE honest people are not famous or special, but behave in a good, socially acceptable way:
8. make an honest woman (out) of somebody old-fashioned to marry a woman because you have had a sexual relationship with her
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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
