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

Those involved could include the Special Boat Service and the Royal Marines, depending on the level of resistance expected from crews aboard the shadow vessels.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

“If we really want to stop the war, we need to meet — on the level of leaders and technical groups.”

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

New England’s rapid offensive improvement this year is a reminder that there are few geniuses in the sport on the level of the 49-year-old McDaniels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Weiss did not provide any specifics on the level of investment for the new initiatives.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

It was no harder to attack up a mountain than on the level, I argued.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway