unvarnished truth

It took courage for these veterans to go on camera and offer the unvarnished truth about the disastrous wars they helped to fight.

Conor Cullen, the solicitor representing the Conway family in the legal challenge, told BBC News NI that a parallel inquiry in the Republic of Ireland was necessary in uncovering "the unvarnished truth".

“We need to tell the unfiltered, unvarnished truth about what is happening in the shelters,” Dains said.

But demonstrating that overtly, especially to folks who don’t know you well, sometimes requires sticking your own unvarnished truth in their faces.

“He was incredibly helpful because you just knew you were getting his opinion. It was the unvarnished truth, and you know, it didn’t mean he was right. ’Cause nobody’s always right in this business.