truth-bomb
/ˈtruːθ bɒm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A surprising, blunt statement of an uncomfortable truth. It is often spoken to shock someone or change the mood quickly.
- She dropped a truth-bomb during the meeting.
- That truth-bomb changed the whole conversation.
Adinary Nuance
Truth-bomb is sharper and more dramatic than honesty or frankness. It suggests a sudden, striking comment that may make people uncomfortable. Writers use it when the truth is delivered like a shock, not just stated clearly.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lời nói thật phũ
- Spanish
- verdad impactante
- Chinese
- 惊人真相
- Japanese
- 衝撃の真実
- Korean
- 충격적인 진실
Etymology
Truth-bomb is a modern English compound. It combines truth and bomb, using bomb as a sudden, forceful event. It became popular in informal speech and online writing in the 2000s.
Common phrases
drop a truth-bomba truth-bomb momenttruth-bomb reaction
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is truth-bomb formal or informal?
- It is informal. People use it in speech, social media, and casual writing.
- Is truth-bomb the same as honesty?
- No. Honesty is a general quality. A truth-bomb is one sudden, shocking honest statement.
- Can I use truth-bomb in business writing?
- Usually no. It can sound too casual or dramatic for formal business writing.