true (redirected from trueing)

*too good to be true

almost unbelievable; so good as to be unbelievable. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; get~.) The news was too good to be true. When I finally got a big raise, it was too good to be true.

See also: good

*true as steel

very loyal and dependable. (*Also: as ~.) Through all my troubles, my husband has been as true as steel. Pedro was a staunch friend, true as steel.

See also: steel

someone's true colors

Fig. a person's true attitude, opinions, and biases. When he lost his temper at his wife, I began to see his true colors.

See also: color

come true

to materialize as expected or hoped. Jane's wishes had come true. Dave wondered if his dreams would ever come true.

See also: come

course of true love never did run smooth

Prov. People in love with each other often have to overcome difficulties in order to be together. (From Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream.) Jill: What am I going to do? My boyfriend's job is transferring him to Texas, and I have to stay here. Jane: The course of true love never did run smooth.

See also: course, did, love, never, run, smooth

dream come true

Fig. a wish or a dream that has become a reality. My vacation to Hawaii was like a dream come true. Having you for a friend is a dream come true.

See also: come, dream

hold true

[for something] to be true; [for something] to remain true. Does this rule hold true all the time? Yes, it holds true no matter what.

See also: hold

Many a true word is spoken in jest. and There's many a true word spoken in jest.

Prov. Just because something is said as a joke, it can still be true. Fred: Why did you make a joke about my being stingy? Do you really think I'm cheap? Ellen: Of course not, don't be silly. It was just a joke. Fred: But many a true word is spoken in jest.

See also: jest, many, spoken, word

Morning dreams come true.

Prov. If you dream something in the morning, it will really happen. (According to a superstition.) As I was sleeping through the sound of my alarm clock this morning, I dreamed I was late to work. That morning dream definitely came true.

See also: come, dream, morning

ring true

Fig. to sound or seem true or likely. (From testing the quality of metal or glass by striking it and evaluating the sound made.) The student's excuse for being late doesn't ring true. Do you think that Mary's explanation for her absence rang true?

See also: ring

tried and true

trustworthy; dependable. (Hyphenated before nominals.) The method I use to cure the hiccups is tried and true. Finally, her old tried-and-true methods failed because she hadn't fine-tuned them to the times.

See also: and, tried

true something up

to straighten something up; to put something into true plumb. Please true this doorframe up better before you hang the door. Can you true up this wall a little?

See also: up

true to form

exactly as expected; following the usual pattern. (Often with running, as in the example.) As usual, John is late. At least he's running true to form. And true to form, Mary left before the meeting was adjourned.

See also: form

true to one's word

keeping one's promise. True to his word, Tom showed up at exactly eight o'clock. We'll soon know if Jane is true to her word. We'll see if she does what she promised.

See also: word

twelve good men and true

Fig. a jury composed of trustworthy men. He was convicted by a jury of twelve good men and true. Not a wino in the lot.

See also: and, good, men

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be too good to be true

if something is too good to be true, you do not believe it can really be as good as it seems The job turned out to be really boring. I knew it was too good to be true.

See also: good

ring true

if something someone has said or written rings true, it seems to be true (often negative) Something about the story didn't quite ring true.

See ring hollow

See also: ring

show somebody in their true colours  (British & Australian) also show somebody in their true colors (American & Australian)

to show what someone's real character is, especially when it is unpleasant By showing the terrorists in their true colours, the government hopes to undermine public support for them.

See also: colour, show

There's many a true word spoken in jest.

something that you say when you think that something someone has said as a joke may really be true or become true 'At this rate we'll be walking all night.' 'Be careful - there's many a true word spoken in jest.'

See also: jest, many, spoken, word

tried and tested/trusted  (British, American & Australian) also tried and true (American)

used by many people and proved to be effective They ran a highly successful advertising campaign using a tried and tested formula. Most people would prefer to stick to tried and true methods of birth control.

See also: and, test, tried

true to form/type

if someone does something true to form, they behave in the bad way that you would expect them to True to form, she turned up an hour later than we'd arranged.

See show in true colours

See also: form

true-blue  (American & Australian)

if someone is true-blue, they support something or someone completely Tom's true-blue - he won't let us down. They want control of the company to remain in true-blue American hands.

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a dream come true

something that has been desired for a long time that has happened as hoped for Our vacation by the ocean was a dream come true.

Related vocabulary: come true

See also: come, dream

come true

to happen as hoped for The good things we've been hoping for are actually coming true.

Related vocabulary: a dream come true

See also: come

ring true

to seem to be accurate or sincere The book rang true because the author had actually experienced the ordeal of being marooned on an island. Cooper's reassuring words didn't ring true with everyone.

Usage notes: often used with not, as in the example, and often used in the forms the ring of truth or a ring of truth: Speaking as a parent of boys, I can tell you her comments have the ring of truth.

Opposite of: ring hollow

See also: ring

show somebody's/something's true colors also reveal somebody's/something's true colors

to let others see what someone or something is really like Hal's wife showed her true colors by getting a second job when he lost his. Workers felt the company revealed its true colors during the crisis.

See also: color, show

too good to be true

not to be believed or likely to be real They told me I'd be going on business trips to Europe, but it sounded too good to be true.

See also: good

true enough

correct or accurate, but not completely explaining something It's true enough that he had doubts about the project, but we have to look further to understand why he resigned so quickly.

See also: enough

true to your word

as you promised True to his word, he paid back the money I had loaned him.

See also: word

true to form

as can be expected True to form, he tried to get out of helping wash the dishes.

See also: form