Expression "The whole truth"

[dany]

Test No. incompl/elem-1 "Speaking already", question 8

I want you to tell me the ......... truth.

(a) all
(b) exact
(c) real
(d) whole

Test No. incompl/elem-1 "Speaking already", answer 8

I want you to tell me the whole truth.

Correct answer: (d) whole

Your answer was: incorrect
I want you to tell me the real truth.
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why it's "whole" and not "real"?

dany

[Torsten]

Hi Dany,

The whole truth is a fixed expression, an idiom.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[mohannad]

[Torsten]

I guess you simply have to accept the fact that in any language there are fixed expressions such as strong collocations, phrasal verbs and idioms. Sometimes there might be a logical explanation but in many cases there isn't. Instead of looking for a reason why a certain phrase has emerged, it's much more effective to simply learn that phrase by heart (this is another example of a fixed expression) and get on with more important issues. (phrasal verb).
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[etienne]

If you still cannot accept it think about this. Truth - there is only one truth and it is always real and exact (even if only for one person) Truth though can be divided into "half truths" and so the idiom - the whole truth.

[Hoa]

Dear techer,
Why it isn't all truth?

[Mister Micawber]

.
I want you to tell me the ......... truth.

As one of the quantifiers, all does not modify in association with articles:

All elephants are grey (not the all elephants...)
Some elephants are missing (not the some elephants...)

As a Group I determiner (all, both, twice, such, etc), all precedes Group II determiners (articles, demonstratives, etc):

All the elephants have been fed (not the all elephants...)
Both the elephants are Asiatic (not the both...)
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[learning.language]

:-s teacher, then why it is not using the "real" truth?

[Mister Micawber]

.
There is no such thing as 'false truth'; 'real truth' is redundant.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber