Idioms

tell the truth and shame the devil

tell the truth and shame the devil

We must always tell the truth, even when it would be to our benefit or advantage to tell a lie. A: "But you could go to jail if you tell the police what happened!" B: "Maybe. But I was raised to tell the truth and shame the devil."
See also: and, devil, shame, tell, truth
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Tell the truth and shame the devil.

Prov. to tell the truth even though you have strong reasons for concealing it. Jill: Have you been using my computer without asking permission? Jane: Uh... no.... Jill: Come on, Jane, tell the truth and shame the devil.
See also: and, devil, shame, tell, truth
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
So, tell the truth and shame the devil? Right, and end up with no friends and no family with whom to exchange all those lies which make life liveable.
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