speak frankly

Meaning

This phrase means to talk in an honest, direct, and open manner, especially about difficult or sensitive topics. It implies that the speaker is not trying to sugarcoat the truth or hide their real opinions. The tone is serious and respectful, suitable for both professional discussions and personal relationship talks.

Examples

• If we want to save our business partnership, we need to sit down and speak frankly.

  If we want to save our business partnership, we need to sit down and speak frankly.

• I appreciate when my friends speak frankly with me instead of just saying what I want to hear.

  I appreciate when my friends speak frankly with me instead of just saying what I want to hear.

• Let me speak frankly: your current performance is not meeting our team's standards.

  Let me speak frankly: your current performance is not meeting our team's standards.

• They decided to speak frankly about their relationship issues before things got worse.

  They decided to speak frankly about their relationship issues before things got worse.

• It takes courage to speak frankly to your boss about burnout.

  It takes courage to speak frankly to your boss about burnout.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to speak frank with you about this issue.

  ✓ I want to speak frankly with you about this issue.

  'Speak' is a verb, so it must be modified by the adverb 'frankly', not the adjective 'frank'.

• ✗ We need to speak frankly on our feelings.

  ✓ We need to speak frankly about our feelings.

  Use the preposition 'about' when discussing a topic, or 'with' when referring to the person you are talking to.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I need you to ___ with me; do you think this relationship is working?

  💡 Talk honestly and directly.

  Show answer

  speak frankly

• Instead of dropping hints, we should just ___ about what we expect from each other.

  💡 Express thoughts without sugarcoating.

  Show answer

  speak frankly