When a friend asks for your honest opinion, is it better to be completely honest or to be kind?

A natural way to answer

I believe honesty is usually the kinder choice in the long run, even if it's harder in the moment. That said, the delivery matters enormously. You can tell someone the truth while still being considerate of their feelings, and that's the balance I try to strike.

Key phrases to use

• sugar-coat — to make bad news sound nicer than it really is“I won't sugar-coat it — the results weren't good.”
• rubbing it in — reminding someone of something embarrassing or painful in a way that makes them feel worse“Okay, I made a mistake — no need to keep rubbing it in.”
• break it to me — to tell someone difficult or upsetting news gently“She broke it to me as kindly as she could.”
• come back to bite you — to cause problems for you later as a result of something you did or didn't do“Cutting corners now will come back to bite you.”