
Idiomatic Expressions about Honesty & Dishonesty (Part 2)
November 23, 2016
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23/11/16 Idiomatic Expressions about Honesty & Dishonesty (Part 2)
face value | If you take something at its face value, you assume that it is genuinely what it appears to be. Example: The car seems to be in good condition, but don’t take it at its face value; get a mechanic to check it out. |
fair and square | If something is obtained or won fair and square, it is done in an honest and open manner, the rules are respected and there is no cheating or lying. Example: Gavin won the competition fair and square – there was no doubt about the result. |
false pretenses | If you obtain something under false pretenses, you deceive others by lying about your identity, qualifications, financial or social position, in order to get what you want. Example: The journalist obtained the interview under false pretenses. |
five finger discount | If somebody gets a five-finger discount, they take something without paying. In other words, they steal. Example: How could he afford that watch? Who knows – perhaps with a five-finger discount! |
fly-by-night | A fly-by-night person, business or venture is considered untrustworthy because they operate briefly and disappear overnight Example: I bought it in one of those fly-by-night stores and now I can’t exchange it. The place has closed down. |
funny business | A business which is conducted in a deceitful, dishonest or unethical manner is called funny business. Example: I’ve got suspicions about that association. I think they’re up to some funny business. |
grease someone’s palm | If you accuse someone of greasing somebody’s palm, you are accusing them of giving money to someone in order to gain an unfair advantage or to obtain something they want. Example: In some countries, it is common practice to grease government officials’ palms. |
hand in glove | Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association, are said to be hand in glove. Example: After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the referee. |
ill-gotten gains | Money, profit or benefits that are made in a dishonest or illegal manner are called ill-gotten gains. Example: He won money by cheating and is now enjoying his ill-gotten gains. |
live a lie | If you spend your life hiding something important about yourself, or inventing something which is not true, you live a lie. Example: To hide his humble origins, he told his wife he had no family and spent his life living a lie. |