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deflection

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

give someone the benefit of the doubt

English answer:

believe someone's statement

Added to glossary by Ana Juliá
Sep 14, 2004 13:30
19 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term

to give one benefit of doubt

English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Can anyone please explain what it really means?

Thank you

RafaLee
Responses
4 +6 believe someone's statement
3 +4 to believe the best of someone when not all the facts are known
5 +2 Do not judge someone to be guilty if there is doubt
5 +1 the benefit of the doubt - see explanation
5 +1 accept as being true/correct
4 +1 if there are several ways to treat an issue or a person, it is to choose the most trusting way
4 +1 assume the best
5 Accepting a person is innocent, being honest or correct, etc. although doubt exists

Discussion

Ana Juliá Sep 14, 2004:
It should be THE benefit of THE doubt

Responses

+6
3 mins
Selected

believe someone's statement

English Idiom #33
GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
Explanation of English Idiom #33
BELIEVE SOMEONE'S STATEMENT, WITHOUT PROOF.
Example of English Idiom #33
"THE TEACHER'S EXPLANATION DID NOT SEEM LOGICAL, BUT I GAVE HER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT."
http://www.vec.ca/english/11/idioms.cfm


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Note added at 6 mins (2004-09-14 13:36:32 GMT)
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give sb the benefit of the doubt

to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either
After hearing his explanation, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=benefit*1 0&d...
Peer comment(s):
agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne : No indication to the contrary, so looking on the positive side. "The benefit of THE doubt"
10 mins
thank you, Nikki!
agree Ingrid Petit
10 mins
Thanks!
agree conejo
58 mins
Thank you! :-)
agree RHELLER : yes, we need those articles!
2 hrs
thank you, Rita!
agree Mapi
4 hrs
Gracias, Mapi
agree Jörgen Slet
1 day 8 hrs
Thanks!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Graded automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
3 mins

if there are several ways to treat an issue or a person, it is to choose the most trusting way

For example, I think you took my pen when I was out of the room. I can accuse you of stealing it. Or, I can decide that you did not do it - I can decide to trust you. So then I would give you the best treatment in terms of trust.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jörgen Slet
1 day 8 hrs
thanx. I guess we are all right to a degree
Something went wrong...
+1
3 mins

the benefit of the doubt - see explanation

It means that you trust in what someone tells you, or believe them to be innocent, even if you have no way of proving their innocence/the truth of what they say.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jörgen Slet
1 day 8 hrs
Something went wrong...
+4
5 mins

to believe the best of someone when not all the facts are known

In case of doubt = when the facts are not known, or not certain.

To give a person the benefit = to believe the best of that person, to

It is something like being considered innocent until being proven guilty.
Peer comment(s):
agree humbird : Yes, especially the last part. "Innocent until proven guilty" is the foundation of American judicial system (at least in principle).
3 hrs
agree Mapi
4 hrs
agree Mónica Belén Colacilli
1 day 42 mins
agree Jörgen Slet
1 day 8 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
19 mins

assume the best

Just throwing this in as a suggestion. If you are giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you do not question their motives, you take what they say or do at face value and assume that there is no ulterior motive or reason for it.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jörgen Slet
1 day 8 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
8 mins

Do not judge someone to be guilty if there is doubt

If some one is accused and if there is a doubt that the accused could be innocent give the accused "the benefit of doubt" and do not judge this person as being guilty.

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Note added at 36 mins (2004-09-14 14:07:20 GMT)
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As an axiom, it is \'Benefit of Doubt\'
This expression is not used only in a court of law. It is used in life in general and especially in sports!
Example - Soccer:
Your opponent has the ball. You take possession and your opponent falls down and acts as is he is seriously hurt! The referee is not sure; so he gives you the \"Benefit of Doubt\" and does not award a ‘penalty strike’

Hope this helps!
Peer comment(s):
agree Mónica Belén Colacilli
1 day 41 mins
Thanks
agree Jörgen Slet
1 day 9 hrs
Thanks
Something went wrong...
+1
15 hrs

accept as being true/correct

to give someone the benefit of doubt means to accept their statement as being true without yourself having the facts to determine whether they are or not.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jörgen Slet
17 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 13 hrs

Accepting a person is innocent, being honest or correct, etc. although doubt exists

Accepting a person is innocent, being honest or correct, etc. although doubt exists.
Suppose, you broke my expensive heavy glass vase, and you said that you stumbled and fell on it. Probably, you had tried to lift it up and it fell on the hard floor. In my heart I felt that is what happened; but still I decided to believe in what you said, for there is no proof to prove it otherwise. And it is usually done to keep peace.
Something went wrong...
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