You must not mince matters; tell the truth.

I am afraid the two brothers are <u><em>at cross purposes</em></u>.

To have one's heart in one's boots

He fell <u><em>ill at ease</em></u> after receiving the letter from his son.

A baker's dozen

Despite the trust bestowed on the minister he turned out to be <u><em>a snake in the grass</em></u&…

He is in the habit of <u><em>fishing in troubled waters</em></u>.

To pull one's socks up

The pros and cons