Parrhesia
Frank speech: saying the risky thing plainly, often with an acknowledgement of the risk.
Parrhesia is Greek for "speaking everything" — candid speech offered despite danger to the speaker. In Athenian democracy it named a civic right; in rhetoric it became a recognised figure in which a speaker announces that they will say what the audience may not want to hear.
Michel Foucault devoted his final lecture courses to the term, arguing that genuine parrhesia requires four conditions: the speaker believes what they say, says it to someone more powerful, accepts the risk, and speaks out of duty rather than advantage.
As a figure it usually comes marked: "I will be blunt", "forgive me for saying so". The marking is functional — it asks in advance for the licence that the content is about to spend.
Common mistake: the performance without the risk. Announced bluntness delivered to a sympathetic audience about an absent target is flattery wearing courage's clothes.
“I am going to say something you will not like, and I would rather say it now than after the vote.”
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Ironically granting permission or conceding a point, so that the concession damages the opponent.
Conceding a weaker point in order to strengthen the main one.
A formal defence of one's beliefs or conduct — an explanation, not an apology.
Aristotle's three modes of persuasion — character, emotion, and reason.