U

honest-to-goodness

honest-to-goodness [on-ist-tuh-goo d-nis] Word Origin adjective

real or genuine.

adverb

really, truly, or genuinely.

Also hon·est-to-God [on-ist-tuh-god] /ˈɒn ɪst təˈgɒd/. Origin of honest-to-goodness First recorded in 1915–20 Related Words for honest to god real, genuine, heartfelt, outspoken, trustworthy, earnest, candid, serious, forthright, true, solid, positive, actual, credible, satisfying, persuasive, convincing, plausible, reasonable, conceivable Idioms and Phrases with honest to god honest to God

Also, honest to goodness or Pete; honest Injun. Truly, really, as in Honest to God, I didn’t know it was yours, or Honest to goodness, we had exactly the same experience, or I promise I’ll finish in time, honest to Pete, or Honest Injun, I didn’t take your wallet. These colloquial assertions date from about 1900, except for honest Injun, dating from the late 1800s and today considered offensive.