in conscience
adv1
In fairness; by all that is reasonable.
- ‘Is she tall, or short?’ asked Mrs. Horton, still wishing for farther information. ‘Oh, tall enough of all conscience,’ returned Lady Evans […].1791, Elizabeth Inchbald, A Simple Story, Penguin, published 2009, page 10:
- I ought in conscience to have made ten thousand pretty detours about all this.1809, Walter Scott, letter, 14 June
1 more example
- I liked it when Mart came and we got the takeaway, but I should have left it all for him. Though in all conscience I didn't do it for the sake of the spare ribs.2005, Hilary Mantel, Beyond Black: