Idiom
warts and all
Meanings
Completely and honestly, including all faults or imperfections.
Without idealizing; showing the whole truth, even the unpleasant details.
Definition
Accepting someone or something completely, including all faults and weaknesses.
“Warts and all” means in an honest, realistic way that includes flaws as well as strengths. It is often used when you accept a person, plan, or story without hiding the unpleasant parts. It can also describe showing the full truth rather than an idealized version.
Examples
- I love him warts and all.
- The biography portrays the singer warts and all.
- We accepted the proposal warts and all, knowing it needed work.
- She decided to tell the story warts and all.
- They showed the behind-the-scenes process warts and all.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use it to mean “with extra details,” but it specifically means including faults or unpleasant truths.
More idiom (adverbial phrase)s
- come hell or high water Used to emphasize that you will do something no matter what difficulties happen.
- in a nutshell “In a nutshell” means in a very brief and clear summary.
- by the book If you do something by the book, you follow the official rules exactly.
- out of left field Used to describe something surprising or unexpected, especially because it seems unrelated to what …
- once in a blue moon Very rarely; almost never.