keep me honest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep me honest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a desire to remain accountable, to stay true to yourself, or to maintain a high level of integrity. For example, you could say "I'm determined to be successful, and I'm asking my friends to keep me honest along the way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

You're gonna keep me honest, Rhea".

The New Yorker

I drafted him partly because water play is always more fun with a child and because I figured that he would keep me honest.

The New York Times - Arts

Only time will tell whether I was right on that particular deal, but I feel that the FOMO or insight question helps keep me honest.

TechCrunch

In the interim, I hereby instruct myself to make more testable predictions in the next year; and in the meantime, I'm sure I can always count on TechCrunch's much-beloved commenters to keep me honest.

TechCrunch

I assumed an electronic device will keep me honest.

Huffington Post

I'm thinking about documenting it online because that will keep me honest.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

He consistently keeps me honest".

The Guardian - Music

"It keeps me honest," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"My family keeps me honest," he said.

The New York Times

The anticipated embarrassment of the moment of getting caught for petty theft keeps me honest.

The New Yorker

There are a lot of good 10s out there, which is good: it keeps me honest and humble, it keeps me out of my comfort zone and on my toes.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keep me honest" when you want someone to hold you accountable for your actions or statements, ensuring you remain truthful and ethical.

Common error

Avoid using "keep me honest" when you actually mean "be honest with me." The former is about maintaining your own integrity, not questioning the other person's.

Linguistic Context

Function: The phrase "keep me honest" serves as a request or plea for someone to ensure the speaker's adherence to truthfulness and ethical behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s about staying true to yourself. It highlights the speaker's desire to maintain integrity and avoid deception.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Huffington Post

20%

Vice

7%

Less common in

The New Yorker

5%

Independent

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep me honest" is a request for assistance in maintaining personal integrity and truthfulness. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a grammatically correct phrase used to solicit support in upholding ethical standards. While not overly formal, it’s most common in news and media contexts. If the user needs more formal alternatives, they could explore phrases such as "hold me accountable" or "ensure my integrity". When seeking clarity or support in upholding your commitment to truthfulness, remember that asking someone to "keep me honest" can be a valuable tool in promoting accountability and ethical behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold me accountable

Emphasizes the aspect of being answerable for one's actions or decisions.

make sure I stay true to my word

Focuses specifically on maintaining fidelity to promises or commitments.

ensure my integrity

Highlights the maintenance of moral principles and honesty.

support my commitment to truth

Highlights the backing and reinforcement of a dedication to honesty.

guide me to be truthful

Implies a need for assistance or direction in remaining honest.

steer me towards honesty

Implies guidance and direction toward truthful conduct.

keep my feet on the ground

This is more metaphorical, suggesting preventing arrogance or losing touch with reality.

help me stay objective

Focuses on avoiding bias or personal feelings in judgment.

challenge my actions

Focuses on critical evaluation and questioning of behavior.

help me be responsible

Broadens the scope to include overall accountability and duty.

FAQs

How can I ask someone to "keep me honest"?

You can directly ask someone to challenge your statements, provide feedback, or hold you accountable to your goals. For example, "I'm trying to be more consistent with my exercise routine, so please "keep me honest"."

What does it mean when someone says "keep me honest"?

It means they want you to help them stay true to their word, values, or commitments. They are seeking your support in maintaining their integrity and avoiding dishonesty, either with themselves or with others.

Are there situations where it's inappropriate to ask someone to "keep me honest"?

It might be inappropriate if you don't have a close relationship with the person, or if the situation is very sensitive or personal. Asking someone to "keep you honest" requires a level of trust and mutual understanding.

What's a more formal way to say "keep me honest"?

In a more formal context, you could say "hold me accountable", "ensure my integrity is maintained", or "assist me in upholding ethical standards". These phrases convey the same meaning of accountability but with a more professional tone.