honest to God

Idioms and Phrases

Also, honest to goodness or Pete ; honest Injun . Truly, really, as in Honest to God, I didn't know it was yours , or Honest to goodness, we had exactly the same experience , or I promise I'll finish in time, honest to Pete , or Honest Injun, I didn't take your wallet . These colloquial assertions date from about 1900, except for honest Injun , dating from the late 1800s and today considered offensive.

Example Sentences

It was a call to arms, a campaign strategy session, and—above all—an honest-to-God old-fashioned Pentecostal tent revival.

From Slate

It’s honest-to-God comedy because it worked or it didn’t work.

From Los Angeles Times

Not the “I laughed so hard, I cried” kind of tears but honest-to-God weeping at the emotional heartbreak unfolding before your eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

Not the “I laughed so hard, I cried” kind of tears, either, but honest-to-god weeping at the emotional heartbreak unfolding before your eyes kind of tears.

From Los Angeles Times

In her effervescent “Concerto,” set to music by Francis Poulenc, the dancers didn’t noodle through an approximation of balletic steps with earnest arms and wistful eyes; Peck made an honest-to-god ballet — a marriage of classical technique and musicality.

From New York Times