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Glite Dictionary
nugget of truth

nugget of truth

1 4.6
A small clear fact that is correct among many wrong things
  • noun
translation icon : grano de verdad
  • He had the feeling that the tangled knot of history, pop culture, celebrity, class resentment, insanity, and sex contained some essential nugget of truth about our society.

All cultures have stories and fairy tales and things like that, but they all kind of come from a nugget of truth.

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Examples

  • In between are nuggets of truth and searing criticisms.

    Academic text (1993)

  • I wish I had known that nugget of truth early on in my career.

    The Diary Of A CEO

  • However, great followers look for the nugget of truth that can be used to improve any situation.

    Blog text (5)

  • What's the nugget of truth in all this?

    Blog text (7)

  • What's the nugget of truth hidden inside?

    Blog text (32)

  • "Every time that I listen to it, a new nugget of truth emerges."

    Blog text (31)

  • And of course, there's a nugget of truth in there.

    Blog text (9)

  • Thanks again, Chris, for a wonderful down-to-earth nugget of truth.

    Blog text (30)

  • As a follower, listen carefully, searching for the nugget of truth.

    Blog text (5)

  • I wish I had known that nugget of truth early on in my career.

Synonyms

tidbit
vsnugget of truth
  • US
38 3.5

A small interesting piece of information people share

highlights a small valuable fact rather than just interesting or gossiping detail
grain of truth
vsnugget of truth
  • Informal
5 3.9

A small real part of a story that is mostly false

focuses on a small valuable fact that stands out among less useful material

Antonyms

falsehood
46 4.3

A statement that is not true

How Valuable

key point
43 3.1
insight
493 4.9
nugget of truth
1 4.6
grain of truth
  • Informal
5 3.9
hint
229 1.5

Surface Forms

nugget of truth singular
nuggets of truth plural

Morphology

nugget + of + truth

The expression combines 'nugget' (a small, valuable lump) with 'truth' to mean a small but valuable piece of factual information; this metaphorical extension is directly inferable from the constituent meanings and common composition patterns (cf. 'grain of truth'). A B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably deduce the intended sense without prior exposure.

Etymology

Nugget of truth comes from the picture of a miner finding a small nugget of gold in a lot of dirt; that tiny nugget is very valuable. So, a nugget of truth means a small but important 'fact' hidden among less useful information.