ain't that the truth
6
8.6
- idiom
- /eɪnt ðæt ðə truːθ/
- Informal
- The weather has been unpredictable lately, ain't that the truth?
Examples
-
Ain't that the truth, man?
-
Ain't that the truth?
-
That's a challenging project, ain't that the truth?
-
After all that we've been through, ain't that the truth?
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Say this to show agreement or acceptance
∞
1.0
To emphasize and agree that something is true
259
8.1
To say you agree with someone
186
9.9
Adds strong agreement or extra emphasis to a statement, especially in old writing
130
8.5
Say this to show you strongly agree with something
53
6.8
To show you strongly agree with what someone said
26
9.9
An informal exclamation used to show agreement
16
9.9
A short casual reply showing weak agreement or that you heard someone
11
7.6
A strong way to agree with what someone says
1
8.6
Shows that you agree strongly with what someone says
Antonyms
How Strong
∞
1.0
- Informal
6
8.6
5
1.0
- Informal
259
8.1
78
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is transparently compositional: 'ain't' functions as a colloquial negator/contracted copula (≈ 'isn't/aren't'), and 'that the truth' straightforwardly points to the truth of the preceding comment. A B1 learner who knows these constituents can readily infer it as an emphatic expression of agreement (equivalent to 'that's true'), though it is colloquial in register.
Etymology
Ain't that the truth comes from everyday speech where ain't is a casual way to say 'isn't' or 'is not'. People say it when they hear something obvious and want to show they 'agree strongly', so it means 'that's definitely true'.