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Glite Dictionary
plain dealing

plain dealing

4.7
Honest and open way of acting without hiding anything
  • noun
translation icon : trato honesto
  • Plain dealing is best because to proceed otherwise will lead to confusion, disillusionment, and loss of credibility.

Examples

  • Being able to make good on what is promised brings rewards of credibility and peace of mind. "Plain dealing is easiest and best," I have often heard.

    Academic text (1999)

  • When he did speak, "no relenting nor plain dealing could be found in him."

    Academic text (2018)

  • Rather, "truth and plain dealing is best." 40

    Academic text (2018)

  • Is this plain dealing, he asked? 109

    Academic text (2018)

  • Again, the refrain from Rogers: "Plain dealing would have put men out of doubt, seeing you know what they were."

    Academic text (2018)

  • Honesty and plain dealing are essential for building trust in any relationship.

  • She valued plain dealing and always spoke her mind without hiding her true feelings.

  • In business, plain dealing can help avoid misunderstandings and foster long-term partnerships.

Synonyms

honestness
vsplain dealing
4.8

Being truthful and fair in what you say and do

focuses on open behavior and avoiding concealment or deceit in actions

Antonyms

dishonesty
46 3.2

Actions like lying, cheating, or stealing

deceitfulness
2 6.5

Trying to make other people believe something that is not true

How Honest

fairness
236 1.9
plain dealing
4.7
shady dealing
  • Informal
4 5.6
deceit
66 4.6

Surface Forms

plain dealing singular
plain dealings plural

Morphology

plain + dealing

The meaning is directly compositional: 'plain' = candid/straightforward and 'dealing' = manner of conducting interactions, so together they naturally yield 'honest, open behavior.' This adjective+noun combination follows a standard semantic pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Plain dealing may come from old markets where sellers showed their goods plain and made fair deals, with nothing hidden. That's why the phrase now means 'honest and open behavior'.