Honesty and secrets idioms

25 honesty and secrets idioms with what each one means. Tap one for its origin, examples and a quick check.

Actions speak louder than words
Actions speak louder than words means that what you actually do shows more about you than what you say or promise.
All that glitters is not gold
All that glitters is not gold means that something attractive or impressive on the outside may not be valuable or good.
Beat around the bush
To beat around the bush means to avoid saying something directly, usually because it is awkward or unpleasant.
Call a spade a spade
To call a spade a spade is to speak plainly and honestly about something, even if the truth is unpleasant.
Caught red-handed
To be caught red-handed means to be caught in the act of doing something wrong.
Cook the books
To cook the books is to change financial records dishonestly, usually to hide losses, take money or make a business look healthier than it is.
Crocodile tears
Crocodile tears are fake tears or a false show of sadness from someone who is not really sorry.
Cry wolf
To cry wolf means to raise a false alarm, especially again and again, so that people stop believing you when there is real trouble.
Face value
To take something at face value means to accept it as it first appears, without looking for a hidden meaning or catch.
Fair and square
If you win or get something fair and square, you do it honestly and by the rules, with no cheating or tricks.
Let the cat out of the bag
If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, usually by accident or before you were supposed to.
Monkey business
Monkey business is silly, mischievous or dishonest behavior, especially when someone is trying to get away with something.
Mum's the word
Mum's the word means "say nothing": it is a promise, or a request, to keep something secret.
No strings attached
If something comes with no strings attached, it has no hidden conditions, costs or duties; you get it without owing anything back.
Read between the lines
To read between the lines means to understand a hidden meaning that is not stated directly.
Red herring
A red herring is a clue, fact or topic that pulls attention away from the real issue, often on purpose.
Skeleton in the closet
A skeleton in the closet is a secret from someone's past that would cause shame or embarrassment if people found out.
Spill the beans
To spill the beans is to tell a secret or reveal information too early, often by accident.
Spill the tea
To spill the tea means to share gossip or juicy, private news about someone.
Take it with a grain of salt
To take something with a grain of salt means to doubt it a little, because it may not be completely true.
Talk is cheap
Talk is cheap means it is easy to say you will do something, but actions are what really count.
Turn a blind eye
If you turn a blind eye to something, you pretend not to notice it, usually something wrong that you should deal with.
Under the radar
If something happens or stays under the radar, it goes unnoticed or attracts little attention, whether on purpose or by chance.
Under wraps
If something is kept under wraps, it is kept secret and hidden from the public for a time.
Wolf in sheep's clothing
A wolf in sheep's clothing is someone who seems friendly or harmless but actually means to cause harm.

Honesty and secrets idioms

More idioms by topic