to be frank
to be frank — 慣用語
1. a phrase you say before sharing what you really think, warning the listener that
坦白說
說出真心話前的提醒，暗示話可能不中聽
a phrase you say before sharing what you really think, warning the listener that your honest view might upset or disappoint them
To be frank, Vinícius, your first plan was much stronger than this new one.
坦白說，Vinícius，你的第一個方案比這個新的好太多了。
front position: to be frank, + honest assessment
To be frank with you, Esme, the soup you cooked was far too salty to finish.
老實跟你說，Esme，你煮的那碗湯太鹹了，根本喝不完。
to be frank with you, + clause softening a complaint
The coach paused, then said, to be frank, the whole team had played badly.
教練停頓了一下，接著說，坦白講，整隊都打得很差。
reported speech: introduces a blunt judgement
To be frank, Lan never enjoyed the job, but she stayed for the money.
坦白說，Lan 從來都不喜歡這份工作，但為了錢還是留了下來。
To be frank, Vivek, the apartment is too small and too far from your office.
坦白說，Vivek，這間公寓太小，離你的辦公室也太遠了。
- to be frank with you
- to be frank about
- to be honest
more neutral; does not warn as strongly that the remark may sting
- frankly
single-word version, slightly more abrupt and formal
- to tell you the truth
often admits something the speaker had been holding back
文法句型
to be frank, + clause
to be frank with you, + clause
用法筆記
Sits at the front of a sentence as a comment on the whole statement that follows. Often expanded to 'to be frank with you' when speaking directly to one person, and signals that a critical or unwelcome remark is coming.