honest-to-goodness
'honest-to-,goodness *adj* [A] *infml* apprec pure and simple; in a natural state; STRAIGHTFORWARD
**hon-es-ty** /'ɒnəstɪ/ $ *n* [U] **1** the quality of being honest: *We've never doubted her honesty. | I must tell you in all honesty (=being completely open and truthful) that your chances of passing the test are not very high.* $\rightarrow$ opposite DISHONESTY **2 honesty is the best policy** saying it is better to be honest and tell people the truth
**hon-ey** /'hʌnɪ/ $ *n* **1** [U] the sweet sticky usually golden-brown substance produced by bees, which can be eaten on bread and used in cooking **2** also **hon-ey-bunch** /'hʌnɪbʌntʃ/ *especially AmE* **a)** (used when speaking to someone you love): *Gee, honey, that's a swell dress you've got on!* **b)** (used informally as a friendly form of address, especially by or to a woman) **3** [C] *infml, especially AmE* something excellent: *That's a honey of a car!*
**hon-ey-bee** /'hʌnɪbi:/ *n* a bee which makes honey
**hon-ey-comb** /'hʌnɪkəʊm/ $ *n* **1** a container made by bees out of wax and consisting of six-sided cells in which honey is stored $\rightarrow$ see picture at CELL **2** something like this in shape or pattern, such as an arrangement of bricks
**hon-ey-combed** /'hʌnɪkəʊmd/ *adj* [F(with)] filled with holes, hollow passages etc
**hon-ey-dew mel-on** /ˌhʌnɪdju: 'melən||-du:-/ $ *n* a common type of MELON with a pale skin and flesh and a very sweet taste
**hon-eyed** /'hʌnɪd/ *adj lit* (of words) sweet and pleasing and often insincere
**hon-ey-moon**' /'hʌnɪmu:n/ $ *n* **1** the holiday taken by a man and woman who have just got married. They usually leave for their honeymoon immediately after the RECEPTION which follows the wedding ceremony, and often do not tell anyone where they are going: *a honeymoon couple | the hotel's honeymoon suite (=a specially comfortable set of rooms used by people on their honeymoon)* $\rightarrow$ see Feature on page A28 **2** a short period of agreement, good relations etc at the beginning of a new piece of work, period of office etc: *The honeymoon is over - people are starting to criticize the new government.*
**honeymoon**$^2$ *v* [I+adv/prep] to have or spend one's honeymoon: *honeymooning in the Bahamas* —**er** *n*
**Hon-ey-moon-ers, The** /'hʌnɪmu:nəz||-ərz/ (1949-54) a humorous US television programme about a fat man with strong opinions, played by Jackie GLEASON, who argues a lot with his wife, but who loves her really
**hon-ey-pot** /'hʌnɪpɒt||-pɑ:t/ $ *n infml* something, especially the possibility of financial reward, which attracts a lot of people: *The North Sea oil industry has always been a honeypot.*
**hon-ey-suck-le** /'hʌnɪˌsʌkəl/ $ *n* [C;U] a climbing plant with sweet-smelling yellow flowers
**Hong Kong** /ˌhɒŋ 'kɒŋ||ˌhɔ:ŋ 'kɒ:ŋ/ an area on the south coast of China, consisting of several islands and a small part of the Chinese MAINLAND. Population: 6,855,000 (2004). Hong Kong was a British COLONY from 1842 until 1997, when it was given back to China and became officially known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Although it is part of China, it has its own government and financial system, and this arrangement is described as 'one country, two systems'. Hong Kong is an important financial and trade centre, and is known as a very busy, active place with many very tall buildings. $\rightarrow$ see also NEW TERRITORIES
**Hon-i soit qui mal y pense** /ˌɒni ˌswɑ: ki: ˌmæl i: 'pɒns||ˌɑ:n- 'pɑ:ns/ French the MOTTO (=special saying) of the ORDER OF THE GARTER. It means 'Let anyone who thinks bad things about it be ashamed.'
**honk**' /hɒŋk||hɒ:ŋk, hɑ:ŋk/ *n* **1** the sound a GOOSE makes **2** the sound made by a car horn
**honk**$^2$ *v* [I; T(at)] to (cause to) make a honk: *He honked his horn as he went past.*
**hon-ky, honkie** /'hɒŋkɪ||'hɒ:ŋ-, 'hɑ:ŋ-/ *n AmE* *derog slang* a white person
**honky-tonk**' /'hɒŋki tɒŋk||'hɑ:ŋki tɑ:ŋk, 'hɔ:ŋki tɔ:ŋk/ $ *n AmE* a kind of bar especially popular in the 1950s which featured country music, dancing, and drinking. Many COUNTRY AND WESTERN songs from this period are about honky-tonks.
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**hon-ky-tonk**$^2$ *adj* **1** of or used in a merry form of piano-playing: *a honky-tonk piano/pianist* **2** cheap and brightly coloured; lacking good taste: *a honky-tonk restaurant*. **3** of a honky-tonk: *a honky-tonk singer/man*
**Hon-o-lu-lu** /ˌhɒnə'lu:lu:||ˌhɑ:n-/ the capital of Hawaii on the island of Oahu. It is a port and trade centre and is visited by many tourists.
**hon-or** /'ɒnə||'ɑ:nər/ $AmE$ for HONOUR
**hon-or-a-ble** /'ɒnərəbəl||'ɑ:n-/ $AmE$ for HONOURABLE
**honorable 'discharge** *n AmE* if you leave the army with an honorable discharge, your behaviour and work have been very good $\rightarrow$ opposite DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE
**hon-o-rar-i-um** /ˌɒnə'reəriəm||ˌɑ:nə-/ *n pl* **-iums** or **-ia** /-iə/ a sum of money offered for professional services, for which by custom the person does not ask to be paid
**hon-or-ar-y** /'ɒnərəri||'ɑ:nəreri/ *adj* **1** (of a rank, a university degree etc) given as an honour, not according to the usual rules **2** holding an office or position without payment for one's services: *She's the honorary chairman.* $\rightarrow$ compare HONOURABLE
**hon-or-if-ic** /ˌɒnə'rɪfɪk||ˌɑ:nə-/ *adj, n* (a title or expression) which shows respect, especially as used in Far Eastern languages —**ally** /kli/ *adv*
**'honor roll** *n AmE* a list of students who have achieved the highest marks (GRADES) in a school or college: *Are you on the honor roll this year?*
**hon-ors** /'ɒnəz||'ɑ:nərz/ *AmE* for HONOURS
**'honor so,ciety** *n AmE* an organization for the recognition of high ACADEMIC standards in students, either within a particular school or on a local or national level: *The honor society will meet after school on Thursday.*
**'honor ,system** *n AmE* a way of operating some activity in which people are trusted to be honest and obey rules, and no checks are made on them: *We run the coffee shop on an honor system: take what you want and leave the money in the box.*
**hon-our**' $BrE$ || **honor** $AmE$ /'ɒnə||'ɑ:nər/ *n* **1** [U] the great respect and admiration which people have for a person, country etc, often publicly expressed: *to win honour on the field of battle | fighting for the honour of one's country | a party in honour of (=to show respect to) the visiting president | The queen was welcomed at the airport by a guard of honour. (=special group of soldiers)* **2** [U] high principles and standards of behaviour; nobleness of character: *a man of honour | It's a point of honour with me to repay all my debts promptly. | I give you my word of honour (=I promise) that I did not take the money.* **3** [S(to)] a person or thing that brings great pride and pleasure: *He's an honour to the school. | It's a great honour to have the Queen here today. | (polite or fml) Will you do me the honour of dancing with me?* **4** [U] *now usually humor* the CHASTITY of a woman (especially in the phrase **lose one's honour**) **5 (in) honour bound** forced by one's standards of good behaviour: *I feel (in) honour bound to repay the money I borrowed.* **6 on one's honour** on trust; being trusted to behave rightly: *He was on his honour not to tell the secret.* $\rightarrow$ see also HONOURS, MAID OF HONOUR
**honour**$^2$ $BrE$ || **honor** $AmE$ — *v* [T] **1** *especially fml* to show or bring honour to: *We're deeply honoured that you should agree to join us. | Today the Queen honoured us with/by her presence.* **2** to keep (an agreement), often by making a payment: *The bank has refused to honour his cheque. | Please honour your agreement/contract.*
**Honour** $BrE$, **Honor** $AmE$ — *n* **Your/Her/His Honour** a title of respect for a judge or a US mayor: *His Honour Judge Sachs | Her Honour the Mayor | Good morning, Your Honour.*
**hon-our-a-ble** $BrE$ || **honorable** $AmE$ /'ɒnərəbəl||'ɑ:n-/ *adj* **1** bringing or deserving honour: *honourable deeds | an honourable settlement of the dispute* **2** showing high principles and good character $\rightarrow$ compare HONORARY —**bly** *adv*
**Honourable** *written abbrev.* **Hon.** *adj* **1** used in Britain in the titles of children whose father is a lord and in the titles of judges and members of parliament **2 Honourable Member** used by British members of parliament when talking to or about each other in the House of Commons $\rightarrow$ compare RIGHT HONOURABLE