IELTS Idioms for Honesty and Fairness
1) above board
Meaning- If a situation or business is above board, it is honest and legal.
Example- Anyone who wants to inspect our books can see for themselves that we are totally above board.
2) not beat around the bush or not beat about the bush
Meaning- If you don't beat around the bush or don't beat about the bush, you say what you want to say clearly and directly.
Example- Let's not beat about the bush. I think these letters are worth a lot to you.
3) below the belt
Meaning- If someone says something that is below the belt, they say something cruel and unfair.
Example- He made a joke about her divorce which I thought was a bit below the belt.
4) by fair means or foul
Meaning- If someone tries to achieve something by fair means or foul, they use any possible method to achieve it, not caring if their behaviour is dishonest or unfair.
Example- They will do everything they can to win, by fair means or foul.
5) call a spade a spade
Meaning- If you call a spade a spade, you speak honestly and directly about a subject even if it offends people.
Example- In the meantime, Whyte is an outspoken voice who is willing to call a spade a spade.
6) come clean
Meaning- If you come clean about something, you tell the truth about it.
Example- I had expected her to come clean and confess that she only wrote these books for the money.
7) fair and square
Meaning- If someone wins a competition or does something fair and square, they do it without cheating or lying.
Example- My father bought them fair and square fifty years ago. We've still got the receipts.
8) keep your nose clean
Meaning- If you keep your nose clean, you behave well and avoid trouble. [INFORMAL]
Example- He'd worked hard and kept his nose clean for all those years.
9) lay your cards on the table or put your cards on the table
Meaning- If you lay your cards on the table or put your cards on the table, you tell someone the truth about your feelings, opinions, or plans.
Example- I'll lay my cards on the table: I think the new design is terrible. I'm going to put my cards on the table and make you an offer.
10) a level playing field
Meaning- A level playing field is a situation that is fair and where no one has an advantage over other people.
Example- Trade with these nations must be conducted on a level playing field.
11) move the goalposts
Meaning- If someone moves the goalposts, they change the rules or aims in a situation or activity, in order to gain an advantage and to make things more difficult for the other people involved.
Example- They seem to move the goalposts every time I meet the required conditions.
Example- The administration is shifting the goalposts and changing its demands.
12) on the level
Meaning- Someone or something that is on the level is honest or true.
Example- Wait a minute, something's odd here - is this guy on the level? Can we trust him?
13) stab someone in the back
Meaning- If someone that you trust stabs you in the back, they secretly do something which hurts and betrays you.
Example- She was incredibly disloyal. She would be your friend to your face, and then stab you in the back.
14) to someone's face
Meaning- If you say something, especially something critical or unpleasant, to someone's face, you say it directly to them.
Example- He was too old and he had to step aside. But who was going to say so to his face?
Example- He was too old and he had to step aside. But who was going to say so to his face?
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