tell it like it is

verb

To speak frankly, to convey all and only the truth of a situation.

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Meanings

verbtell it like it is (third-person singular simple present tells it like it is, present participle telling it like it is, simple past and past participle told it like it is)

present singular third person tells it like it is · participle present telling it like it is · participle past told it like it is · past told it like it is

  1. idiomaticTo speak frankly, to convey all and only the truth of a situation.

Translations

Norwegian si det som det er
  • si det som det erto speak the truth
Romanian spune lucrurilor pe nume
  • spune lucrurilor pe numeto speak the truth
Cite this entry
APA

tell it like it is. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tell%20it%20like%20it%20is

MLA

“tell it like it is.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tell%20it%20like%20it%20is. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tell it like it is,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tell%20it%20like%20it%20is.

Source: tell it like it is on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.