The DU Lounge

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)

41. I don't see anything wrong with "to be frank" or "to be honest"

Mon Apr 14, 2014, 07:14 PM

Apr 2014

I doubt whether anyone always gives their candid opinion about everything to everyone. Many times, people will say something they don't really mean, just to be diplomatic. Starting out a reply to a question with "to be frank" or "to be honest" just means that you're letting the other person know that you will be giving them your candid opinion.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

98 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

22 Common Phrases We All Secretly Hate [View all] ashling Apr 2014 OP

"It is what it is." "At the end of the day." CurtEastPoint Apr 2014 #1

These two would be okay if used sparingly derby378 Apr 2014 #2

You're right. I have heard the 'day' expression used 2, 3, 4 times in a talk or radio snippet. CurtEastPoint Apr 2014 #5

Politicians use it all the time on C-Span. n/t RebelOne Apr 2014 #26

Do you mean that ashling Apr 2014 #3

maybe it depends on what "is" is --seems like I remember somebody saying that. raccoon Apr 2014 #10

Mine are the misuse of "literally" geardaddy Apr 2014 #4

What is the correct use of ashling Apr 2014 #34

Oh hrmph! geardaddy Apr 2014 #37

I am regretfully guilty of this one!.... A HERETIC I AM Apr 2014 #6

The worst is when their answer to a question begins with 'So,". Gidney N Cloyd Apr 2014 #9

Sometimes "So" takes the place of "Umm" csziggy Apr 2014 #15

We are now over a decade into the NEXT century ashling Apr 2014 #35

I always just say ashling Apr 2014 #44

Another one is when people say, "So?" UrbScotty Apr 2014 #80

I'm in the minority brooklynboy49 Apr 2014 #7

The Platitudes were a great group back in the day ashling Apr 2014 #13

Haha! nt Jade Fox Apr 2014 #20

I don't see anything wrong with "to be frank" or "to be honest" Art_from_Ark Apr 2014 #41

From now on you will have to use this in ALL of your posts ashling Apr 2014 #54

Yes, in every post Art_from_Ark Apr 2014 #81

As I recall, the flip side had ashling Apr 2014 #55

Actually, this one... pipi_k Apr 2014 #8

""I have to be brutally honest" -- usually the accent is on the brutal. nt raccoon Apr 2014 #11

Its all about the brutality ashling Apr 2014 #12

I have to be viciously truthful. lol n/t leeroysphitz Apr 2014 #40

A fairly recent one: "I know, right?" Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #14

Secretly? Nothin' "secret" about it! Coventina Apr 2014 #16

"I'm just sayin" = Lamest comeback. Ever Populist_Prole Apr 2014 #17

I had a Polish ex-pat ask me once Populist_Prole Apr 2014 #18

IMO it means "I don't understand" treestar Apr 2014 #78

"We have a lot of work to do" UrbScotty Apr 2014 #19

Add "we are going to work smarter, not harder" which is usually said by one who will do no work... Tom Ripley Apr 2014 #65

Just please, everyone, stop saying "awesome"! Jade Fox Apr 2014 #21

That would be awesome! Coventina Apr 2014 #22

I am guilty of that phrase. n/t RebelOne Apr 2014 #27

"Awesome" should be outlawed. kwassa Apr 2014 #43

"Can I level with you?" kairos12 Apr 2014 #23

"We need to talk." KamaAina Apr 2014 #24

aw f*** how I detest that one Skittles Apr 2014 #49

"But, we can still be friends!" Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #56

that's actually true, until someone owns them Skittles Apr 2014 #66

Yes! LeftOfSelf-Centered Apr 2014 #67

"In what respect, Charlie?" KamaAina Apr 2014 #25

it's not personal lululu Apr 2014 #28

It's ALWAYS personal ashling Apr 2014 #36

You know..... LynneSin Apr 2014 #29

I'm not "racist, sexist, homophobic, an asshole etc etc etc" but.......... LynneSin Apr 2014 #30

That is always followed by "some of my best friends are..." Boomerproud Apr 2014 #38

"Can I ask you a question?" Auggie Apr 2014 #31

to be perfectly frank... warrprayer Apr 2014 #32

"no problem" as a response to "thank you" aint_no_life_nowhere Apr 2014 #33

Good grief... Ino Apr 2014 #46

I don't mind that but a similar one I don't like treestar Apr 2014 #77

"Never gonna give you up," KamaAina Apr 2014 #39

Ending with "just so you know"... countryjake Apr 2014 #42

"I'm sorry for your loss" Ino Apr 2014 #45

So, what are they supposed to say on such an occasion? nt raccoon Apr 2014 #86

Something a bit more personal. Ino Apr 2014 #88

'Truth be told.' Paper Roses Apr 2014 #47

Yes! I have a client that says that too much. progressoid Apr 2014 #64

Epic GeorgeGist Apr 2014 #48

+1 Jamaal510 Apr 2014 #73

It's all good IDemo Apr 2014 #50

What a miserable person the author of that article must be KurtNYC Apr 2014 #51

On first blush, dont those conspiracy theories make you astral Apr 2014 #75

I teach college students davidpdx Apr 2014 #52

"the youth" lululu Apr 2014 #68

Curious how often we don't say what we mean. malthaussen Apr 2014 #53

"Keep in touch"... when it is obvious neither of you intend to do so. femmocrat Apr 2014 #69

" touch base with you" irisblue Apr 2014 #57

"Change is good" ashling Apr 2014 #58

I've heard some cringeworthy ones in the tech industry Rob H. Apr 2014 #59

When I lived in WA state I was always ashling Apr 2014 #60

That kind of makes sense Rob H. Apr 2014 #62

If you can think of more of these, IDemo Apr 2014 #70

Irregardless, I literally understand. Vashta Nerada Apr 2014 #61

You have Got to be shitting me, 'cause I'm totally down with that! adirondacker Apr 2014 #89

"I don't mean to be rude,but..." Go Vols Apr 2014 #63

Along with that, "Maybe I shouldn't say this, but...." usually followed by something they shouldn't raccoon Apr 2014 #87

"In a few minutes from now" bif Apr 2014 #71

Watergateism ashling Apr 2014 #72

"Jeebus", Jamaal510 Apr 2014 #74

YEAH BUT riles me the most. edgineered Apr 2014 #76

Nome sayn? n/t doxydad Apr 2014 #79

So ... JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2014 #82

Duh--Dude! randr Apr 2014 #83

George Carlin: "it's the quiet ones you got to watch". Initech Apr 2014 #84

... Boom Sound 416 Apr 2014 #97

I don't frogmarch Apr 2014 #85

"Think about it." hermetic Apr 2014 #90

As a college professor, I am constantly encouraging my students ashling Apr 2014 #92

To clarify... hermetic Apr 2014 #93

Interesting thing about two of the phrases. Efilroft Sul Apr 2014 #91

but they had repentance ritual BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2014 #94

"really?" hopemountain Apr 2014 #95

I'm really finding "That said,..." YankeyMCC Apr 2014 #96

I mean... Boom Sound 416 Apr 2014 #98