home truth

noun

1. an indisputable fact or basic truth, especially one whose accuracy may cause discomfort or embarrassment.

home truth

noun

1. (often plural) an unpleasant fact told to a person about himself

Word History and Origins

Origin of home truth¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Idioms and Phrases

A key or basic truth, especially one that is discomforting to acknowledge. For example, It's time you told a few home truths here, such as where your campaign finances actually came from. This expression uses home in the sense of “the very heart of a matter.” [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

Clarke also told me he was ready for some hard home truths about his moves.

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"There are some basic home truths that don't need an awful lot of research to come to a conclusion that they're not really viable," argued Prof Siegert.

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This Twickenham test, against the form team in Europe, will deliver some home truths about the distance between where England are and where they aspire to be.

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"You are going to tell them some home truths sometimes and they might be upset with them, but not completely berating them down to nothing."

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BBC Sport's Six Nations pundits reveal their desert island nightmares, their alternative career ambitions, and some brutal home truths.

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