Idiom idiom
give someone the benefit of the doubt
Meaning
Trust what someone says
Examples
“I give him the benefit of the doubt and believe his story.”
“Even though he arrived late again, his boss decided to give him the benefit of the doubt because of the heavy rain.”
“While the evidence against the witness was compelling, the jury chose to give her the benefit of the doubt, assuming her mistakes were honest errors rather than intentional lies.”
Origin
From legal tradition: where evidence leaves reasonable doubt, the accused should be acquitted; the phrase is attested in trial records from the late 18th century.
Last updated June 7, 2026