Idiom Topics
The Ubiquitous Essentials
10- On the other hand
- At the end of the day
- In the long run
- Bear in mind
- A piece of cake
- Keep an eye on
- Out of the blue
- Rule of thumb
- So far, so good
- Behind the scenes
Everyday Casual & Workplace
10- Under the weather
- Call it a day
- Up in the air
- Wrap your head around
- Break the ice
- Get out of hand
- Go the extra mile
- Touch base
- Hit the nail on the head
- Cut corners
Problem Solving & Interaction
10- See eye to eye
- Read between the lines
- Take it with a grain of salt
- Get the hang of it
- Give the benefit of the doubt
- The elephant in the room
- Hit the ground running
- Play it by ear
- Bite the bullet
- Sit on the fence
Decisions & Perspectives
9- Jump on the bandwagon
- Cross that bridge when we come to it
- The best of both worlds
- A blessing in disguise
- Once in a blue moon
- Pull someone's leg
- Miss the boat
- Better late than never
- Get your act together
Colorful & Traditional
10- Spill the beans
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Bite off more than you can chew
- Go back to the drawing board
- Barking up the wrong tree
- Actions speak louder than words
- A penny for your thoughts
- Break a leg
- Hit the sack
- Beat around the bush
Academic & Formal Discourse
10- Bear fruit
- Pave the way
- Shed light on
- Go hand in hand
- Tip the scales
- Fly in the face of
- Bring to the table
- Turn a blind eye
- Draw a blank
- State of the art
Emotions & Reactions
10- Over the moon
- Down in the dumps
- On edge
- Blow off steam
- Keep your cool
- Drive someone up the wall
- On cloud nine
- A weight off my shoulders
- At your wits' end
- Thrilled to bits
Effort, Success, & Failure
10- Start from scratch
- Pass with flying colors
- Fall flat
- Go down the drain
- Keep your head above water
- Pay off
- Throw in the towel
- Make headway
- Uphill battle
- Back to square one
Time, Speed, & Urgency
10- Beat the clock
- At the eleventh hour
- Around the clock
- In the nick of time
- Drag your feet
- Time flies
- Make up for lost time
- Call time on
- Ahead of the curve
- On the spur of the moment
Resources, Money, & Value
10- Make ends meet
- Foot the bill
- Break the bank
- Tighten your belt
- Bang for your buck
- A drop in the ocean
- Make a killing
- On a shoestring budget
- Worth your weight in gold
- Pay top dollar
Give the benefit of the doubt
Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Give the benefit of the doubt" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourProblem Solving & Interaction collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.
Give the benefit of the doubt
To choose to believe that someone is telling the truth or behaving honestly, even if you are not completely certain.
History & Origin
This idiom originated in the legal systems of the mid-1700s, specifically relating to the principle of 'reasonable doubt' in criminal trials. It dictated that if the evidence against an accused person was not completely conclusive, the court was legally obligated to rule in favor of the defendant's innocence. Over time, this formal judicial guarantee evolved into a common social phrase meaning to favorably judge someone when evidence is scarce.
Examples
Although Mark missed the project deadline without sending a prior update, let's give him the benefit of the doubt until we hear his explanation.
I know Sarah arrived late to brunch again, but traffic was terrible today, so I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt.
When assessing historical narratives that lack definitive archeological confirmation, modern historians occasionally give the author the benefit of the doubt if concurrent accounts align.
The public is hesitant to give the politician the benefit of the doubt regarding the missing campaign funds, especially given his past financial controversies.
In building a resilient community, we must learn to give each other the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to immediate, hostile conclusions.
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?
A. Since the evidence clearly proved he committed the crime, the jury decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and found him guilty.
B. She didn't show up for our meeting, but I will give her the benefit of the doubt because she is usually very reliable and might have had an emergency.
C. I always give my car the benefit of the doubt by changing its engine oil and checking the tire pressure every single month.
D. He gave me the benefit of the doubt that I would win the race because I had trained harder than any other athlete in the stadium.