trickle truth

English

WOTD – 19 August 2017

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /tɹɪk(ə)l tɹuːθ/
Audio (AU) (file)
Rhymes: -uːθ
Hyphenation: tric‧kle truth

Noun

trickle truth (uncountable)

(informal) Facts gradually and reluctantly admitted by one's significant other under questioning, especially about having been unfaithful.
- 2011, Deanna Sims, “Forgiveness”, in What Happens After Shattered?: Finding Hope and Healing after Infidelity, Bloomington, Ind.: CrossBooks, →ISBN:
  It is common for straying spouses to discharge or unload information after carrying around secrets for months, sometimes years. […] It is uncommon for them to be completely honest upon the first disclosure, for they tend to withhold details and only reveal the absolute minimum to protect themselves. The truth seems to be revealed over time, a phenomenon well-known as the "trickle truth."
- 2013, Milton S. Magness, “Survey Results: Things that Helped Partners Heal”, in Stop Sex Addiction: Real Hope, True Freedom for Sex Addicts and Partners, Las Vegas, Nev.: Central Recovery Press, →ISBN, page 200:
  His taking too long to answer all my questions. Trickle truth.
- 2015 August 20, Samantha Allen, “Scorned spouses cheer Ashley Madison hack: Spouses are taking to online ‘infidelity survival’ forums after finding their partners’ names in the massive Ashley Madison data dump”, in The Daily Beast‎, archived from the original on 23 February 2017:
  The first things you'll notice when browsing the SI [Surviving Infidelity] forums are the abbreviations—dozens of them. […] There's TT for "trickle truth," which describes the slow pace at which cheaters reveal details about an affair to their partner.