'true-to-life' originates from the English words 'true' and 'life', where 'true' meant 'in accordance with fact or reality' and 'life' referred to 'the existence of an individual human being or animal'.

'true-to-life' evolved from the combination of 'true' and 'life' in English, maintaining its meaning of being realistic or lifelike.

Initially, it meant 'accurately representing real life', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.