Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken – Meaning & Origin

If someone has ever said “truer words have never been spoken” in response to something you’ve said, well, pat yourself on the back. You’ve obviously said something quite clever.

But what exactly does this phrase mean, and when is it generally used? Read on to find out!

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken – Meaning

The phrase “truer words have never been spoken” means that you agree wholeheartedly with something someone has said whether privately or in a public announcement. The phrase has political origins, so is most frequently used to express approval of ideological or political statements.

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken - Meaning

At first glance, the phrase “truer words have never been spoken” may come across as unnecessarily verbose. Surely “I agree” has the same effect.

However, the emotive nature of this phrase is most likely quite intentional considering its political origins. Politicians are notoriously theatrical, but more on that later!

How to Use “Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken” in a Sentence

The phrase “truer words have never been spoken” is a sentence in itself. That being said, it wouldn’t hurt to look at some of the contexts in which this phrase can be used:

  • The Vice President said that capitalism is the root of every evil we currently face in our society. In my opinion, truer words have never been spoken.
  • Desmond Tutu once said that to be neutral in situations of injustice is to take the side of the oppressor, and truer words have never been spoken.
  • “Truer words have never been spoken,” he said, before leaving the room for good.

Have you noticed anything about the context of these sentences? Let’s talk origin stories!

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken – Origin

The phrase “truer words have never been spoken” has political origins. It was M.E. Grant Duffy, an English MP, who said it first in 1878, just over a decade after the American Civil War had concluded.

During a discussion in Downing Street about the ongoings in Asia, another MP expressed concerns about the UK’s hostile engagement with Russia. Duffy gave emphatic agreement to these concerns using the phrase “truer words have never been spoken”.

Thereafter, the phrase seems to have caught on over time.

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken – Similar Quotes

There are a number of quotes and idioms out there that express the same emphatic agreement with a statement as “truer words have never been spoken”.Here are some examples:

  • So true
  • You’ve hit the nail on the head
  • No doubt about it
  • My thoughts exactly
  • True that
  • I have to agree

Phrases That Mean the Opposite of “Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken”

Since “truer words have never been spoken” expresses agreement, any opposite phrase should express emphatic disagreement:

  • That’s absolute rubbish
  • Those words ring false
  • I have to disagree

Correct Ways to Say “Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken”

There are many suitable variations of the phrase “truer words have never been spoken”, so let’s look at a few of them now:

  • Truer words were never spoken
  • No truer words have been spoken
  • Truer words have never before been spoken

Incorrect Ways to Use “Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken”

The phrase “truer words have never been spoken” may, on occasion, be confused with the following proverb:

  • Never a truer word said in jest
  • Many a true word is spoken in jest

These phrases do not carry the same meaning as our phrase of the day, since they are not used to express emphatic agreement per se.

Rather, this phrase is saying that people often express their true feelings in the humorous remarks they make.

In What Situations Can You Use “Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken”?

You can use the phrase “truer words have never been spoken” when you emphatically agree with a statement made by someone else. This phrase is especially appropriate in formal and political contexts.

The phrase also makes a good crossword clue. Ten letters across: AMENTOTHAT.