honest

hon|est [ `anəst ] adjective **

1. ) a person who is honest does not tell lies or cheat people, and obeys the law:

Most young people are decent and honest.

an honest man

honest about: I haven't been completely honest about my past experience.

honest with: Thank you for being so honest with me.

a ) used about the things someone says and does:

I want you to give me an honest answer.

An honest appraisal of his ability can only help him.

honest mistake (=not intentional): I gave her the wrong amount of money, but it was an honest mistake.

2. ) honest work is a job that you work fairly hard at:

When is the last time Charlie did any honest work?

an honest living: I'm just trying to earn an honest living (=earn money by working hard).

honest (to God) SPOKEN

used for trying to make someone believe that what you say is true:

I don't know anything about it, honest.

I wouldn't lie to you, honest to God I wouldn't.

the honest truth

the complete truth

make an honest woman (out) of someone HUMOROUS

to marry a woman, especially when you have already had a long relationship with her

to be honest SPOKEN

used when telling someone what you really think, especially when it may be something they do not want to hear:

To be honest, the meal was terrible.

to be quite/absolutely/perfectly honest: To be quite honest, I'm just not interested.