honest-to-goodness

[ on-ist-tuh-good-nis ]

adjective

1. real or genuine.

adverb

1. really, truly, or genuinely.

Word History and Origins

Origin of honest-to-goodness¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Instead, I am relieved to find myself in an honest-to-goodness rural watering hole.

From The Daily Beast

At first I thought he was just a remote-control tool, but I finally saw that he was a real, honest-to-goodness robot.

From Project Gutenberg

"You told me down in Mandan that you'd never seen an honest-to-goodness cowboy," he whispered.

From Project Gutenberg

Mebbe youre an honest-to-goodness reporter, and mebbe youre not.

From Project Gutenberg

From his description, we thought his oil well was an honest-to-goodness well, and we sold a lot of stock for him.

From Project Gutenberg

A real, honest-to-goodness, glorious he-man action magazine of Science Fiction!

From Project Gutenberg