tell you the truth

Meaning: (idiomatic,informal)Used to positively assert the frank honesty of an associated statement of set of statements; equivalent to "to you tell the truth".1994, Lawrence Block,A Long Line of Dead Men:"What's the point? Your buddies can kick back and relax. I'm going into voluntary retirement." / "Oh?" / "Tell you the truth, I was getting a little tired of Jim Shorter. Tired of that little room on Ninety-fourth Street. You know what I might do? I might leave town."

Examples:

EN: Our friends the the Donadieus also regret your silence. My love, I have to tell you the truth.
ES: Amor mío, debo decirte la verdad.
EN: I'll tell you the truth, dear!
ES: ¡Voy a decirte la verdad!
EN: To tell you the truth, I was born in a garage.
ES: Yo, a decir verdad, nací dentro de un garaje.
EN: I've got to tell you the truth, Abe,
ES: Voy a ser sincero contigo, Abraham.
EN: AndI was ashamed to tell you the truth.
ES: Y me daba vergüenza decirte la verdad.
EN: ...to tell you the truth, darling, all that... that glitters, ...
ES: ...para decirte la verdad, cariño, todo eso... que brilla,...
EN: I'll tell you the truth.
ES: Le diré la verdad.
EN: To tell you the truth, I'm surprised myself:
ES: A decir verdad, yo también estoy sorprendido.
EN: I didn't tell you the truth about that boy you saw in the Ford.
ES: No le dije la verdad acerca del chico que vio en el coche.
EN: Even if I tell you the truth. That I broke from him completely.
ES: ¿lncluso aunque te dijera que ya había roto con él completamente...
EN: - But, Dick, I want to tell you the truth. - Don't bother!
ES: -Dick, quiero decirte la verdad.
EN: To tell you the truth, I don't know.
ES: A decir verdad, no lo sé.
EN: But to tell you the truth, I like him even better in his dinner coat.
ES: Te digo la verdad, me gusta incluso más que con el esmoquin.
EN: The only decent thing I've done since I've known you is to tell you the truth now.
ES: La única cosa decente desde que te conocí ha sido decirte la verdad ahora.
EN: Not until I tell you the truth about something you ought to know.
ES: No hasta que te diga la verdad sobre algo que debes saber.

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