honest to a fault
1
7.4
- idiom
- Informal
:
honesto hasta el extremo
- The teacher was honest to a fault, providing frank feedback that often left students feeling uncomfortable.
It's something kids are so honest to a fault.
- It's something kids are so honest to a fault.
Examples
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I am loyal and trustworthy, honest to a fault, and old school and I guess too in many ways.
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While I may have been given products or books to review, or even received compensation, I am honest to a fault in all reviews.
Blog text (3) -
He is honest to a fault.
Blog text (29) -
McGovern, honest to a fault, was right about the Vietnam War.
Blog text (17) -
Always a hint humorous and honest to a fault, I love to make people laugh and smile.
Blog text (17) -
Raised by puritanical Midwestern parents, you are hardworking, honest to a fault, and very, very empathetic.
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The Xtreme Couture grappling coach has self-admittedly stated that he can be brutally honest to a fault at times, but that's what makes him such a great interview.
Blog text (3) -
My friend is honest to a fault, always telling the truth, even when it hurts others' feelings.
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Kym's honest to a fault nature sometimes puts her in difficult situations during negotiations.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Truthful and fair, not cheating or lying
121
1.3
Always saying what really happened and not lying
83
4.6
Open and honest, telling the truth even when it is hard
Antonyms
How Honest
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase pairs the transparent adjective 'honest' with the fixed idiomatic intensifier 'to a fault' meaning 'to an excessive degree.' A B1 learner who knows 'honest' and 'fault' can often infer that it means honesty taken too far, but the construction 'to a fault' is a conventionalized, somewhat metaphorical pattern that is not fully predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Honest to a fault uses honest and fault in the old sense of 'fault' meaning a 'flaw'. Imagine someone's honesty is so complete it becomes a problem or weakness, and that's why the phrase means 'excessively honest'.