🗓️ Idiom: On the Level
💬 Meaning
- Honest and trustworthy
- Following the rules; not trying to cheat or lie
🧠 Example Sentences
- The deal sounded too good, but it turned out to be completely on the level.
- You can trust her. She’s always on the level in business.
- We need to check if this contract is really on the level before signing anything.
🏛️ Origin
The idiom “on the level” comes from building and construction. A level tool is used to make sure something is straight and even. Over time, people started using “on the level” to describe someone who is honest and fair like a straight, level line.
📝 Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank:
The client seemed honest, but I’m not sure if he’s really __________.
Answer
on the level
Multiple choice:
What does “on the level” mean?
A) Very high up
B) Honest and fair
C) Difficult to understand
D) Against the rules
Answer
B) Honest and fair
Rewrite the sentence:
She is always honest and never tries to trick anyone.
Answer
She’s always on the level.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
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👉 Ethics Idioms for Business
👉 Business English Idioms List
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Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
