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Truth

Posted by ESC on February 24, 2000

In Reply to: Truth posted by Jade on February 24, 2000

: who/what/where was the phrase "to tell the truth" coined?...i'm curious...i have to wirte a paper on what the truth is and well..that's part of what I could use... I haven't been able to find it anywhere so far..maybe you guys could help...

There was an old game show (in the 50s??) called "To Tell the Truth." Then, of course, there's the courtroom oath. Someone else on Phrase Finder can probably add more complete details.

I can contribute the origin of the phrase "naked truth." "According to an old Roman fable, when Truth went swimming in the river, Falsehood stole Truth's clothes. Truth went naked rather than put on the clothes Falsehood had left behind. Such is the origin of 'nuda veritas' or the 'naked truth,' which can be traced back as far as the writings of Homer." From the Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).

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