This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2481.
Truth be told, these idioms will improve your English.
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Today's topic is all about truth.
Get four new idioms about truth to express your point of view and connect.
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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
Hey there, Michelle.
I'm happy to be here today.
How are you?
I'm doing well, thanks.
Lindsay, when you were a kid, did you ever play the game Truth or Dare?
I think I did when I was more of a teenager.
I feel like that was a teenager thing at parties and things.
What about you?
Yeah, yeah, I played it.
Well, what were you more likely to choose?
Um...
Probably dare.
I don't know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Guys, if you don't know this game, I don't know if this is popular around the world, but truth or dare, as you say Lindsay, truth or dare.
And then if it's truth, then you can ask them kind of an intimate question or just a really hard question to answer.
And if it's dare, you have to do something different, crazy or silly.
Maybe you have to run up to a random person and give them a hug, or you have to make a prank phone call.
Prank calls, prank calls is the thing that's so bad.
What we used to do as kids uh, like call prank, like prank people.
So bad yeah oh, my gosh.
Yes, so what are we getting into today, michelle?
Yeah well, today we're going to do an episode about expressions dealing with the word truth.
And we actually recently did an episode about with the word lie.
Towards the end of the episode, this episode, we can give you that one, the title to that one.
So you can go ahead and listen, because it's definitely a good one to pair here, because we have truth and lie right.
Yeah, love it.
So and also, wait until the end.
If you're listening on Spotify, we do these really great polls.
We do them every episode.
But on special episodes, we take them and then we announce the results.
So if you listen to the whole episode, you will get on Spotify.
We will let you know what the poll is.
And then we will be reading the results in a future episode.
Yes.
And as we were just talking about prank calls, it reminds me of a prank we used to do.
And I do not recommend doing this now in 2025, but it's kind of a funny joke.
Michelle, did you used to do this as a kid?
Our babysitter introduced us to this, of course.
So bad example babysitter, right?
So we would prank call people and we would say, hey, is your refrigerator running?
I knew you were going to say that.
Yeah, that is the classic one.
And they would say, yes.
Yeah.
And then we'd say, you better go get it.
Ha ha ha.
And then we'd hang up.
Oh, you actually, you really did that one?
Oh, we really did that one a few times.
That's the classic.
That's the classic one.
And we thought it was the funniest thing as kids.
Just so funny.
Anyway, side point.
So anyways.
Yes.
No, but it's like, that's funny.
Yeah.
So, yeah.
Well, first of all I mean Lindsay.
Truth be told, the best way to get the full Allers English experience is with the app.
Why?
Exactly, Michelle.
Truth be told, it is the best way because you get everything over there, right?
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All right.
Good stuff.
Love it.
Love the app.
All right.
So yeah, let's start out with the first expression.
So it's truth be told, which we just used.
So Lindsay, what does that mean?
And I like the way you use that, Michelle.
It felt so natural.
Oh, thank you.
It's like to tell the truth, right?
You may have heard this.
This is used when you introduce some sort of opinion, which is exactly what we just did.
Or it could be after the opinion is said, you state a X, Y, Z, truth be told.
It comes after what you've said or before.
So, truth be told, I think we should take another look at the estimate before we make our decision okay.
Sometimes you can use this when something is gonna be even a little harsh, right?
Oh, I don't think this is gonna work, truth be told, right?
You're skeptical of something.
Yes, yeah.
So truth be told is a good one.
Now the next one I love.
Yeah.
Yeah.
What is it?
The moment of truth.
Oh, right.
The moment of truth.
The time when something will be revealed connected to a big decision that's being made or a big outcome.
Right.
It's the big moment of truth.
What would be some examples here, Michelle?
Yeah, you could say, okay, moment of truth, open the envelope and let's find out if you got in.
That brings me back to college applications, right?
Waiting to see.
Of course.
But then it was always what they said in the movies, thick or thin, right?
Thick or thin envelope.
Because if your envelope was thin, it's usually a denial.
Rejection.
And then, if it's thick, it's got all the brochures and everything you need to know to properly enroll.
Yeah.
It was more about going to the mailbox and seeing what's in it rather than opening the mail item.
Right.
So you could kind of tell.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Exactly.
But that's a really good way that this would be used.
Moment of truth.
It's like, yeah, you're about to find out the answer.
Right.
Yeah.
I do remember that was a stressful time, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Getting those rejection or acceptance letters for sure.
And then moment of truth.
Do you want the dress or not?
So that means that you have to decide.
You're saying maybe you've been wavering back and forth.
Maybe I will.
Maybe I won't.
Maybe it's your wedding dress, what you're trying to decide on.
And maybe you're taking forever to decide, right?
Yes.
You know, and then, you know, they're saying the store is closing in five minutes.
All right.
Moment of truth.
We got to decide.
Right.
Or your friend just gets annoyed with you.
Did you go wedding dress shopping with your mom or your maid of honor?
I went with my mom, my maid of honor, who was my sister-in-law and actually my cousin.
I was up from Florida.
So she went as well.
What about you?
Yeah, I went with my mom and my mother in law and my maid of honor.
So the whole crew.
And that's how I feel like that's kind of a tradition in the US.
The bride would typically go dress shopping with the mom and a few other people.
Right.
Very typical.
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
So, yeah, moment of truth.
You know, it doesn't have to be a giant decision, but just it could even just be kind of used to rush someone along.
Like I go and decide which water bottle I wanted.
You know, Dan might just say, all right, let's go.
Moment of truth.
Come on.
Right.
And we have to know there's a little sarcasm in Dan's voice when he says that in that kind of scenario.
Right.
When someone is pushing you to make a decision.
When they use the word moment of truth for something that seems kind of like insignificant, they're being a little sarcastic.
Great.
Yes.
Love that.
Exactly.
Good.
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All right, Michelle, face the truth.
Tell us about this.
Yeah, it's like you have to accept something, right?
Sometimes it can be hard to actually accept that something is real.
So it's that moment where you have to look at truth straight in the face and understand that this is the reality.
So You have to face the truth.
She's just not that into you.
Oh, it's so true.
I think I was just having a conversation with someone about a mutual friend who's in a situation like that.
And my comment was, have you, have you not seen, he's just not that into you.
Right.
So we forget these lessons.
We need to go back to that movie, review the movie.
Yeah.
That became a, I don't know if it was cause of the movie or B or the movie became from the title.
It's like a chicken.
Yeah.
It's just not that into you.
I think, I think it may have been, wasn't it a book first?
I think so.
Yeah.
I think the phrase was around before and the movie must've used the phrase, but it made it famous.
Yeah. and made it clear.
So go watch the movie.
It's a good one.
It's a great little movie.
It's a good, nice story.
Ugly truth, Michelle, would be the next one.
Something that is true, but it's not great to hear, or it's not great to accept.
It's not easy to accept.
Right.
Right.
So face the, it's kind of similar to face the truth.
But face the truth is more about like that, maybe about that moment where you accept it.
Ugly truth is just kind of It's there.
So it's something that, but they're basically the same thing.
So something that's true, but it's not great to hear or accept.
So nothing is ever free.
That's the ugly truth.
Yes.
Yes.
And so now question here, what is a truth that is hard for you to accept?
Ooh, that's a big question, Michelle.
Do you have anything here that you can share?
That my kids are growing up.
Aww time, the passage of time.
Michelle yes, it's always, that's always mine.
Yeah, it's uh, that's yeah that That's starting to hurt.
That's fair.
I think every single mother that's listening right now will appreciate that and identify with you as well.
Yeah.
So mine is also related to the passage of time.
Maybe that the body breaks down, like my knees are starting to hurt, you know?
Oh, it's not as easy to stay in shape anymore as it was when I was 25, right?
Yeah yeah oh man yep, that's.
These are good examples.
Um, now i'm depressed no, but that's okay.
Let's cheer up with a role play here, michelle.
In this role play we are made, we are friends, making plans okay, all right, here we go, okay.
So, truth be told, i don't think i can really commit to wednesday, oh no, so thursday friday um, come on michelle, moment of truth.
Okay, I can do Thursday.
I guess I just have to face the truth that I'll be sitting in traffic, but it'll be worth it to hang out.
Yeah, that's the ugly truth.
Okay.
The traffic, not the hanging out.
Right, the traffic.
Yeah, that's hard when you live across the city.
I mean, imagine if you live in LA.
This is probably something you deal with all the time.
Right, planning around the traffic.
Oh my gosh.
I think in LA people just don't leave their own neighborhoods is my feeling, but people are always on the freeway.
It's so wild.
So you have to decide how good is that friendship worth to sit on the 405 for hours, right?
Or I'm sure if you're dating someone new, right?
If they live in an area where it's going to be a lot of traffic, I bet that's a big choice.
Yeah, that'll give a real hurdle, introduce a real hurdle for the relationships to stay together for sure.
All right.
So what did you say?
You said, OK, so truth be told, I don't think I can really commit to Wednesday.
So there's a little bit of a tone of voice action going on here.
You're about to reveal something.
You're not happy to reveal it.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Exactly. um and then you're trying to make the plans okay thursday friday and i'm second guessing and you said come on michelle moment of truth and also tone of voice happening there moment of truth right um i'm waiting for you to say something and give me the answer um and you say i guess i just have to face the truth that i'll be sitting in traffic but it'll be worth it to hang out yeah Yeah.
So I'm saying, all right, Lindsay, you're worth it.
And you said, yes, that's the ugly truth.
Yeah.
And again, the ugly truth is referring to the traffic.
Yeah.
Good.
Yes.
Yeah.
The truth of the city that you live in.
Yes.
True.
Yeah.
So, all right.
So we were mentioning earlier in the episode that we did an episode about lies.
So that was a Saturday episode, a sassy Saturday one.
And it was called Not Gonna Lie.
This episode will keep you honest.
So definitely listen to that one.
And as promised, we have a Spotify poll.
Lindsay, what is the question?
Yeah, this is really exciting.
You're going to have to be over in Spotify to participate.
So go listen to Spotify to make your voice heard.
And here's the question.
Is it ever okay to lie?
And you have two choices.
We have three choices.
Yes, only yes or yes, only to spare someone's feelings or no.
So those are the three choices.
And this will be really interesting to find this out because I know in my graduate program we studied like flexibility of truth across cultures and And is there an absolute truth or is there a relative truth based on are you defending someone in your family, for example?
That kind of thing.
So I know that that is a cultural index that does vary across cultures.
So I'm really excited to hear from our listeners.
And this will be a fascinating one to hear from our community.
Really good.
All right.
Well, this was a lot of fun, Lindsay.
I'm glad we talked about this.
And yeah, I think it's time to go.
It's time to go, Michelle.
We'll wrap it up for today.
Guys, we'll see you in the next episode.
Michelle, thanks for being here.
Thanks.
You too.
Bye, Lindsay.
Bye.
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