truth

Universal Words 1 (the truth) [sing.] the true facts about sth, rather than the things that have been invented or guessed: Do you think she's telling the truth? * We are determined to get at (= discover) the truth. * The truth (of the matter) is we can't afford to keep all the staff on. * I don't think you are telling me the whole truth about what happened. * The awful truth about his disappearance finally dawned on her. * It's the gospel truth (= completely true)! * The sad truth is that, at 72, he is past his prime. 2 [U] the quality or state of being based on fact: There is no truth in the rumours. * There is not a grain of truth in what she says. * His version of events does contain an element of truth. OPPFALSITY 3 [C] a fact that is believed by most people to be true: universal truths * She was forced to face up to a few unwelcome truths about her family. seealsoHALF-TRUTH, HOMETRUTH compareUNTRUTH IDIOMS if (the) truth be known / told used to tell sb the true facts about a situation, especially when these are not known by other people in truth (written) used to emphasize the true facts about a situation: She laughed and chatted but was, in truth, not having much fun. nothing could be further from the truth used to say that a fact or comment is completely false: She thinks I don't like her but nothing could be further from the truth. truth is stranger than fiction (saying) used to say that things that actually happen are often more surprising than stories that are invented (the) truth will out (saying) used to say that people will find out the true facts about a situation even if you try to keep them secret moreatBENDv., ECONOMICAL, MOMENT