on the level

See the Citations page for examples showing the sense evolution.

• "He looks like a used car salesman, but he's really on the level, so you can trust him."
• "While I believe that the American people and the players want the game to be on the level, there are two or three things which, it strikes me, are not up to a high standard of honor."
• ""On the level, honey, I have an all-time, big-time need for coffee.""

• above board
• on the square
• on the up and up

• askew
• crooked