out-front

[ out-fruhnt ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. candid; frank; honest:

   The politician was less than out-front with the interviewer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of out-front¹

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20

Idioms and Phrases

In front of a building or house, as in We really need to put another light out front , or I'll meet you at the museum, out front . The antonym, referring to the back of a building, is out back , as in John's out back fixing his bike . The noun front has been used for the side of a building where the main entrance is located since the mid-1300s; back for the rear of a building dates from the late 1300s.

Example Sentences

“He was not a screamer, he was not a rebel. He was a quiet, dignified, soft-spoken, very progressive intellect behind the Black Power movement. He was content to have Stokely as the out-front person on their book.”

From New York Times

Picking up the torch with an even more anti-establishment spirit is a new interdisciplinary festival, Out-FRONT!

From New York Times

“That’s how far out-front it was and how unique,” she said.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Garland, above all else, wants to avoid accusations that he is litigating cases in the public arena, which he believes will fatally compromise any potential prosecutions, and further damage the already shaky reputation of federal law enforcement following the out-front behavior in 2016 of James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, regarding the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails.

From New York Times

Mr. Garland, above all else, wants to avoid accusations that he is litigating cases in the public arena, which he believes will fatally compromise any potential prosecutions, and further damage the already shaky reputation of federal law enforcement following the out-front behavior in 2016 of James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, regarding the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails.

From New York Times

Related Words

• celebratory
• elated
• exultant
• glorious
• happy
• jubilant
• proud
• triumphal
• victorious