Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
honest-to-goodness. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
honest-to-goodness, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
honest-to-goodness in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
honest-to-goodness you have here. The definition of the word
honest-to-goodness will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
honest-to-goodness, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Adjective
honest-to-goodness (comparative more honest-to-goodness, superlative most honest-to-goodness)
- (attributive only) Real; genuine.
- Is the clam chowder made with honest-to-goodness clams?
- 1961 (republished 2010), Joseph Heller, Catch-22, London: Vintage Books, ISBN 978-0-09-955218-5, page 22:
- I'm a real, slam-bang, honest-to-goodness, three-fisted humdinger. I'm a bona fide supraman.' 'Superman?' Clevinger cried. 'Superman?' 'Supraman,' Yossarian corrected.
2011, John Rogers, Clara Nickerson Boden, The Cut of Her Jib, page 82:Captain Mark heard about it; and dropped in after school to commend his protege. "Young lady, that's the most honest-to-goodness useful thing I ever heard hail from a schoolroom!"
Adverb
honest-to-goodness (not comparable)
- Alternative form of honest to goodness
See also