on the level
prep_phraseEtymology See the Citations page for examples showing the sense evolution.
1
Idiomatic Honest(ly), sincere(ly), straightforward(ly), fair(ly).
- He looks like a used car salesman, but he's really on the level, so you can trust him.
- While I believe that the American people and the players want the game to be on the level, there are two or three things which, it strikes me, are not up to a high standard of honor.1912 August, Christy Mathewson, “Play Clean Ball”, in Boys' Life, page 7:
1 more example
- "On the level, honey, I have an all-time, big-time need for coffee."1959, Marc Brody, Low Dive for Lola, page i. 9:
2
Synonym of on the square (“discreet reference to freemasonry”).
- Synonyms
- above board, on the square, on the up and up