honest-to-goodness

[ on-ist-tuh-goo d-nis ]

/ ˈɒn ɪst təˈgʊd nɪs /

real or genuine.

really, truly, or genuinely.

Nearby words

Also hon·est-to-God

[on-ist-tuh-god] /ˈɒn ɪst təˈgɒd/.

First recorded in 1915–20

Well, they had a free ride for a good long while before there was an honest-to-God response.
Hillary’s Outside Enforcers Are Led by a Former Foe|David Freedlander|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caleb makes clear that those plaguing him are honest-to-god metaphysical beings and not traumatic figments.
Possessed by PTSD, A Veteran Uses Exorcisms to Cast Out His Demons|Brian Van Reet|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I want you to tell me the truth—the honest-to-God, cross-your-heart truth, Lem—about that money.
In Pawn|Ellis Parker Butler
Candron wished he were an honest-to-God telepath, so he could be absolutely sure.
What The Left Hand Was Doing|Gordon Randall Garrett

It was almost as good as though I'd gone back to the days of honest-to-God hold-ups an' rustlin's.
The Trail of Conflict|Emilie Baker Loring
She's meant to be an honest-to-God woman—the kind that keeps men clean—she's meant for the big-time stuff.
The Garden of Eden|Max Brand
Nothing but an honest-to-God, genuine, Joshua-stopping-the-sun type of miracle could have saved the opposition.
Hail to the Chief|Gordon Randall Garrett