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Glite Dictionary
to level with

to level with

40 6.2
Tell someone the truth about something difficult
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈlɛvəl wɪð/
translation icon : ser sincero con
  • We need you to level with us, Dad.
  • level with people
  • level with the public
  • let me level with

How about not now How about OK, I've got a level with you.

Examples

  • Officials in Washington need to start leveling with the American people.

    Oppenheimer (2023)

  • It's important to level with your team when discussing setbacks.

  • Listen, I have to level with you.

    Celebrity (1998)

  • Look, can I level with you?

    Melinda and Melinda (2004)

  • Can we level with each other for a moment?

    The Big White (2005)

  • Come on, level with me.

    The Fan (1996)

  • What you have to do is level with your parents.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • What happens if you level with her?

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The next president must level with the American people about what we are up against in this "long war."

    Blog text (22)

  • We've known each other quite a while, so I'm going to level with you.

    Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

to tell the truth
vsto level with
814 2.7

Say what really happened without hiding facts or lying

adds emphasis on difficult or unpleasant matters rather than general honesty
tell you the truth
vsto level with
  • Informal
227 4.5

Say you are being honest before you speak

is general honesty rather than a phrase used before speaking frankly
to be honest
vsto level with
  • Informal
221 2.3

To show you are telling the truth or how you really feel

is broader honesty rather than a fixed formula used before remarks
to level
vsto level with
  • Informal
56 6.1

To speak honestly to someone about something important

is essentially the same but uses a shorter direct verb form
to speak openly
vsto level with
7 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

focuses more on difficult or unpleasant issues rather than general openness
to be level with
vsto level with
  • Informal
1 5.8

To be honest and direct with someone

is the same meaning but framed as being rather than speaking
to mince no words
vsto level with
  • Informal
1 7.7

Speak very directly without trying to be polite

is honest too but is less forceful and more gentle in tone

Antonyms

to lie
∞ 1.3

To say something that is not true to trick someone

to deceive
270 3.9

To make someone believe something that is not true to get an advantage

How Honest

to level with
40 6.2
to hold back
108 4.2

Surface Forms

level with infinitive
leveled with past
leveled with past participle
leveling with present participle
levels with third person singular

Morphology

level + with

The phrase involves a metaphorical extension: 'with' clearly marks the interlocutor, but 'level' in its most common senses (flat, even) does not directly mean 'speak honestly' for many learners. Because the honesty sense is an extended/metaphorical meaning that requires prior exposure to be fully understood, the expression is only partially predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Level with may come from the image of making two people the same level so they can stand face to face and look each other in the eye, which helps them have a fair, open talk. That's why it means 'to speak honestly'.