on the level

Cultural  

1. Honest, without deception: “We doubted that the offer could be genuine, but it turned out to be on the level.”

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on the level Idioms  

1. Honest, straightforward, sincere, as in You can believe her—she's on the level. This expression may have come from Freemasonry, where the carpenter's level symbolizes integrity. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Any applicant could make claims for various amounts depending on the level of harm.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

The bike charges to full battery in a couple of hours and has a range of 25 to 100 miles, depending on the level of electric assist used.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“Ultimately, we think the long-term outlook for gold will depend on the level of reserves EM central banks end up with, and the share of gold they target,” he said in written commentary.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

The reality is that Britain is toward the bottom of the table, roughly on the level of Mississippi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

He was a god among geeks, a nerd uber-deity on the level of Gygax, Garriott, and Gates.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline