1020 - To Be Honest – English Tips in a Minute | Happy English

1020 - To Be Honest – English Tips in a Minute | Happy English

Author: Michael DiGiacomo Happy English March 29, 2026 Duration: 1:48
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently.

Today, let’s look at a really common conversational phrase - “to be honest…”

We use to be honest when we want to soften our thoughts or feelings, Like when we need to say something negative Or if we need to disagree or decline an invitation.
  • Like if a friend asks,  “Did you like the movie?”  You could say: “To be honest, I thought it was kind of boring.”
  • Or if your coworkers invite you to get together after work, but you don’t want to. You can say,   “To be honest, I’d rather stay home tonight.”

Using to be honest, makes your opinion sound less direct and a little softer. And, it shows that you’re being open and sincere.

So remember, when you want to share your real opinion, try using “to be honest…” It’s simple, natural, and very common in everyday English.

Lemme know in the comments how it goes, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Build your vocabulary with my free Vocabulary Workshop
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signup

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Ever feel like you're missing a piece of the puzzle when you hear native English speakers chat? That's where Happy English Podcast comes in, hosted by Michael DiGiacomo. This isn't about dry textbook rules; it's about the living, breathing language you actually encounter. Each episode feels like a friendly conversation, breaking down the nuances that can trip you up. You'll find yourself understanding the subtle differences between confusing words, getting a handle on those tricky phrasal verbs that seem to change meaning constantly, and even picking up the rhythm and pronunciation of everyday American English. The focus is always on practical use, whether it's mastering common idioms that add color to your speech or clarifying grammar points in a way that sticks. Designed for learners at any stage, the podcast turns complicated topics into manageable, even enjoyable, lessons. The goal is to build your confidence so you can express yourself more naturally and understand more of the world around you. Tune in and discover how approachable learning a language can be, one clear and helpful episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Happy English Podcast
Podcast Episodes
1027 - Bored vs. Boring - What’s the Difference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:24
Bored. Boring. Two simple words, right? But this is something that a lot of people mix up all the time. Like, if the party wasn't so good, is it, “I’m boring,” or “I’m bored”? And what about if someone says, that teacher…
1026 - Borrow, Lend, Rent, Lease - What's The Difference? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:45
Borrow. Lend. Rent. Lease. Four simple words, right? But it seems like it's easy to mix these up. Is it , can you lend me a pen? Or can you borrow me... wait... can I borrow. So what IS the difference? When can we use bo…
1024 - The Thing Is - English Tips in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. Today, let’s look at…
1023 - Practical Uses of Like in Everyday English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:32
Do you ever feel like people use the word like all the time… and you’re not really sure why? You hear things like, “I was like…” “It was like…” “He’s like, 50…” and sometimes it feels like that word is everywhere. So if…
1022 - Play vs Do vs Go - How to Talk About Sports Naturally [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:34
Have you ever tried talking about sports in English and suddenly, you get mixed up with using play, do, or go? Is it “I play skiing”? “I do skiing”? “I go skiing”? Or maybe you’ve heard things like, “I play tennis”… but…
1021 - Win, Lose, Beat - How to Talk About Sports in English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:35
Game. Match. Two simple words, right?But then when you watch sports in English, you understand the game… but not always the language.Which one should you use? Sometimes I hear people say things like, “I watched a basebal…
1019 - Just vs Already vs Yet - How to Really Use Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:39
Just. Already. Yet. Three little words. They should be simple, right?But then when you try to use them in conversation, you’re not really sure which one sounds right.Should you say, “I just finished”? Or “I already finis…
1018 - Practical Uses of Will and Gonna in Everyday English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:26
Have you ever studied will and be going to and thought… “Okay, I understand the rule… but I still don’t know which one to use when I speak”? Maybe your textbook says something like: “Use will for the future,” and “Use be…
1017 - Spring Idioms for Everyday English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:33
Have you ever noticed how spring feels like a fresh start? The weather gets warmer, the days get longer, and suddenly you feel like doing something new. Maybe you want to start exercising, clean your house, or even chang…