honest to a fault

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

so truthful and transparent that one's honesty occasionally causes unintended harm, social friction, or embarrassment — saying things that tact and social convention would normally leave unsaid, or delivering truths that others were unprepared to hear; the phrase acknowledges that honesty, like most virtues, can be expressed to an excess that becomes counterproductive; a person who is honest to a fault may alienate people by commenting on their failings, may create diplomatic incidents by saying what they truly think of a situation, or may sabotage their own interests by being candid when strategic ambiguity would serve better; the phrase is usually meant as a compliment despite the caveat, recognising the rarity and underlying virtue of radical honesty even when its social costs are apparent