the bare truth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the bare truth" is perfectly acceptable and commonly used in written English.
It is used to refer to the absolute truth of a matter, and often implies that the truth is simple and plain. For example, "He told me the bare truth - that he had been lying to me the whole time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

There is no reason to doubt the bare truth of these reminiscences.

The New Yorker

If I had to stick to the facts, the bare truth of things, that would be no use either.

The New York Times

Comey-over: A pathetic and vain maneuver to cover up the bare truth about yourself by blaming someone else.

The New Yorker

It is the bare truth to say that no matter how much we think we know about life on Earth, we know almost nothing.

The New York Times

"The bare truth of tennis is that it takes money," said Levar Harper-Griffith, though he stood on these sun-baked hardcourts today as something of a counter to that point.

The New York Times - Sports

In my mind there was something immutably glamorous and grown-up about the very confinement of a girdle, demonstrating that you were no longer an indecorous girl but a woman, willing to suffer extreme discomfort in aid of — let's strip to the bare truth of it — capturing and keeping the male gaze.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"We were not used to this kind of display," Ellen explains, "this bare truth".

The New York Times - Books

The bare naked truth of our present welfare system is a racially biased, overly paternalistic, unnecessarily controlling, grossly exclusionary system of punishment and blame that limits opportunity and taxes working beneficiaries more than any other worker in any income tax bracket.

TechCrunch

The movement seemed to help me feel more alive (and worthy, if you want to know the bare naked truth of it all).

Huffington Post

And it seems to me that these bare truths - the truths about what it's like to be us - cut deeper than any of our 'beliefs.'beliefs

Huffington Post

Hilary Benn MP, Labour's shadow communities and local government secretary, said: "This leaked document lays bare the stark truth of this Tory-led government's failure on housing.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the bare truth" when you want to emphasize the simplicity and unadorned nature of a fact. It often implies a direct and straightforward account, without embellishments.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary intensifiers like "absolutely" or "completely" before "the bare truth". The phrase itself already conveys a sense of stark reality, and adding more emphasis can sound redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the bare truth" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI provides examples of its usage in various contexts, demonstrating its role in conveying factual information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the bare truth" is a commonly used phrase to emphasize the simplicity and unadorned nature of a fact. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently appears in news, media, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "the naked truth" or "the simple truth" exist, "the bare truth" specifically denotes an absence of embellishment. When using this phrase, avoid redundancy by omitting unnecessary intensifiers, as the phrase inherently conveys directness and reality. It presents factual information directly, and you will encounter it in a neutral register when information need to be presented clearly and without adornment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the simple truth

Emphasizes the lack of complexity in the truth.

the naked truth

Highlights the raw and unfiltered nature of the truth.

the plain truth

Stresses the clarity and straightforwardness of the truth.

the honest truth

Focuses on the sincerity and veracity of the truth.

the unvarnished truth

Implies that the truth has not been embellished or softened.

the stark truth

Highlights the harsh or unpleasant nature of the truth.

the unadorned truth

Emphasizes the lack of embellishment in the truth.

the cold hard truth

Stresses the harsh and unforgiving nature of the truth.

the gospel truth

Indicates that the truth is absolutely certain and reliable.

the honest reality

Uses "reality" as a substitute for "truth", emphasizing the factual nature.

FAQs

What does "the bare truth" mean?

The phrase "the bare truth" refers to the simple, unadorned facts of a situation, without any embellishments or exaggerations. It emphasizes the fundamental reality of a matter.

What can I say instead of "the bare truth"?

You can use alternatives like "the simple truth", "the naked truth", or "the plain truth" depending on the specific context.

Is "bare truth" the same as "absolute truth"?

While both phrases refer to factual information, "the bare truth" emphasizes the simplicity and lack of embellishment, whereas "absolute truth" suggests a complete and undeniable certainty.

How to use "the bare truth" in a sentence?

You can use "the bare truth" to introduce a stark or essential fact, for example: "The presentation laid "bare the truth" about the company's financial struggles."