frank
gb/fɹˈæŋk/ us/fɹˈæŋk/
B1
English
őszinte, nyílt, egyértelmű, manifeszt, nyilvánvaló, hot dog, virsli, bérmentesítő jelzés, bérmentesít
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a frank [conversation/answer/admission]
She gave a frank assessment of the team's chances.
Őszinte értékelést adott a csapat esélyeiről.
We need a frank conversation about money.
Őszinte beszélgetésre van szükségünk a pénzről.
His frank comments surprised everyone in the meeting.
Learner examples
Please be frank with me.
Kérlek, légy őszinte velem.
He is frank and honest.
Ő őszinte és becsületes.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse frank (honest) with friendly; a frank comment can sound blunt or critical.
Meaning
honest and direct in speech
Collocations
frank discussion
|frank conversation
|frank talk
|frank admission
|frank answer
|frank appraisal
|frank criticism
|frank remark
|frank warning
|refreshingly frank
Synonyms
candid (Often suggests honest openness without trying to soften the truth.)
|
straightforward (Emphasizes clarity and simplicity as well as honesty.)
|
blunt (Suggests frankness that may sound harsh or rude.)
Antonyms
guarded (Careful and not fully open about thoughts or feelings.)
|
evasive (Avoiding a clear or direct answer.)
Themes
communication
|relationships
|emotions
Definition
honest and direct
Open, honest, and direct in what you say, even when the truth may be uncomfortable.
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
frank [pain/bleeding/signs]
The scan showed frank bleeding, so they moved quickly.
A vizsgálat egyértelmű vérzést mutatott ki, ezért gyorsan intézkedtek.
By the second day, there were frank signs of infection.
A második napra már a fertőzés egyértelmű jelei mutatkoztak.
The patient reported frank pain when walking.
Learner examples
The doctor saw frank signs of infection.
Az orvos a fertőzés egyértelmű jeleit látta.
Common mistake:
This sense is more formal and often used in medical/academic contexts; it does not mean 'honest' here.
Meaning
clear and unmistakable
Collocations
frank pain
|frank bleeding
|frank symptoms
|frank signs
|frank infection
|frank malignancy
|frank blood
|frank weakness
Synonyms
overt (Often used for something clearly seen or done openly.)
|
clear (General word; less specialized than 'frank' in this sense.)
|
unmistakable (Emphasizes that it cannot be confused with something else.)
Antonyms
subtle (Not obvious; difficult to notice.)
|
hidden (Not visible or not clearly shown.)
Themes
health
|formal_writing
Definition
very clear and easy to see
Clearly shown or plainly present; not hidden or doubtful.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a [beef/chicken] frank
I’ll take a frank with mustard, please.
Kérek egy hot dogot mustárral, legyen szíves.
They grilled franks for the kids after the game.
A meccs után virslit sütöttek a gyerekeknek.
She cut up a frank and added it to the beans.
Learner examples
I ate a frank for lunch.
Egy hot dogot ettem ebédre.
Common mistake:
Often used in American English; 'frank' is less common than 'hot dog' in many contexts.
Meaning
a hot dog
Collocations
beef frank
|turkey frank
|a grilled frank
|a frank in a bun
|frank and bun
|eat a frank
|cook franks
Synonyms
hot dog (The most common everyday term.)
|
frankfurter (More formal or specific; often shortened to 'frank'.)
Themes
food
|daily_life
Definition
a hot dog sausage
A hot dog (a cooked sausage), especially as served in a bun.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a frank on [a letter/envelope]
The envelope carried an official frank instead of a stamp.
A borítékon bélyeg helyett hivatalos bérmentesítő jelzés szerepelt.
Mail sent under a congressional frank does not require postage.
A kongresszusi bérmentesítéssel feladott küldemények után nem kell postaköltséget fizetni.
The clerk checked the frank before sorting the letters.
Learner examples
This letter has a frank, not a stamp.
Ezen a levélen bérmentesítő jelzés van, nem bélyeg.
Common mistake:
Not the same as a regular 'stamp'; a frank is an official authorization mark.
Meaning
postal mark for free postage
Collocations
official frank
|congressional frank
|postal frank
|a franked envelope
|apply a frank
|free frank
Synonyms
franking mark (More explicit term; used in postal contexts.)
|
postmark (Related postal marking, but a postmark mainly shows date/place, not payment authorization.)
Themes
mail
|business
|government
Definition
an official mark that pays for mail
An official signature, stamp, or printed mark on mail showing that postage has been paid or that the item can be sent without payment.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
5
bérmentesít
C2
Usage pattern:
frank [a letter/envelope]
Staff members franked the envelopes before the mailing went out.
A munkatársak bérmentesítették a borítékokat, mielőtt feladták volna a küldeményeket.
The office is allowed to frank official correspondence.
Az iroda bérmentesítheti a hivatalos levelezést.
Each package must be franked and logged before pickup.
Learner examples
They franked the letters at the office.
Az irodában bérmentesítették a leveleket.
Common mistake:
This verb is specialized; in everyday English people usually say 'stamp a letter' or 'put a stamp on it.'
Meaning
mark mail as postage paid
Collocations
frank a letter
|frank an envelope
|frank the mail
|frank correspondence
|machine-frank
Synonyms
stamp (General verb for putting postage on mail; not always free/official.)
|
endorse (Can mean to sign to authorize, but is broader than postal use.)
Antonyms
refuse (Opposite action: not authorizing the mailing.)
Themes
mail
|business
|government
Definition
to put an official postage mark on mail
To stamp, sign, or otherwise mark mail to show that postage has been paid or that it can be sent free of charge.
Grammar
Dictionary form
frank
IPA
GB/fɹˈæŋk/
US/fɹˈæŋk/
Syllables & stress
frank (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (frank)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: frank
- Comparative: franker
- Superlative: frankest
Noun
- Base: frank
- Plural: franks
Verb
- Base: frank
- 3rd Person Singular: franks
- Present Participle: franking
- Past: franked
Word family
Expressions
be frank with someone
1/bˈi fɹˈæŋk wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
tell someone the truth directly
to tell someone something honestly
Examples
- I’ll be frank with you: we’re over budget.
- She was frank with her manager about needing time off.
- Be frank with me about what happened.
Learner examples
- Please be frank with me.
- I was frank with my friend.
to be frank
1/tə bˈi fɹˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
speaking honestly and directly
I will say this honestly.
Examples
- To be frank, I don’t think this plan will work.
- To be frank, your presentation needs more data.
- To be frank, I’m not comfortable with the timeline.
Learner examples
- To be frank, I am tired.
- To be frank, I disagree.