hon‧est S1 W3 /ˈɒnəst, ˈɒnɪst $ ˈɑːn-/
adjective [
Word Family: noun:
honesty ≠
dishonesty;
adverb:
honestly ≠
dishonestly;
adjective:
honest ≠
dishonest]
[
Date: 1200-1300;
Language: Old French;
Origin: honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor; ⇒ honor]
1. CHARACTER someone who is honest always tells the truth and does not cheat or steal
Antonym : 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
Synonym : 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. 8443. 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
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
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.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 sexdirect 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. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
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 sexdirect 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.unlock to open a door, drawer, box etc with a key:
You need a key to unlock the safe.unscrew to open a lid on a bottle, container etc by turning it:
I carefully unscrewed the lid of the jar.force open to open a drawer, window, cupboard etc using force:
The door was locked so we had to force it open.unwrap to open a package by removing the paper that covers it:
The children were busy unwrapping their Christmas presents.unfasten/undo to make something no longer fastened or tied, for example a seat belt or a piece of clothing:
He unfastened the top button of his shirt. I was so full I had to undo my belt.start up/boot up to make a computer start working:
I’m having problems starting up my computer.log on/in to start using a computer system by typing your name and password:
He logged on and read his emails.click on something to press a button on a computer mouse to choose a program, file etc from the screen:
When you click on the link, it sends you to the company’s website.install to add new software to a computer so that the software is ready to be used:
All users should install anti-virus software.download to move information, pictures, or music from the Internet onto your computer:
You can download MP3 files.upload to move information, pictures, or music from your computer to a different computer across the Internet:
Sites such as YouTube allow you to upload your own videos.open to make a file or program ready to use:
Open a new file and type in the information.scroll up/down to move information on a computer screen up or down so that you can read it:
Scroll down to read the questions and answers.enter to type information into a computer:
The program requires you to enter a password.delete to remove information from a computer:
I’ve deleted his email. When you delete a file, it first gets moved to the recycle bin.cut and paste to remove information from one place and put it in another place:
Tutors are looking out for students who cut and paste their essays from the Internet.save to make a computer keep the work that you have done on it:
Make sure you save any work you do before you shut the computer down.close to stop having a file or program ready to use:
To close the window, click on the ‘X’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen.log off/out to stop using a computer system by giving it particular instructions:
I get an error message when I log off.shut down to make a computer stop working:
Employees should shut their computers down at the end of each day.restart/reboot to make a computer start working again:
Wait a few minutes before rebooting your computer. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲