Phrasal verb
die for
Definition
phrasal verb. to want something very much because you think it is excellent or beautiful.
phrasal verb. to experience an intense desire for something; used hyperbolically to express extreme appreciation or craving for an object or experience.
Examples
“That chocolate cake is to die for.”
“After a long week of work, I am dying for a quiet weekend at the beach.”
“The view from the penthouse was absolutely to die for, overlooking the entire city skyline and the harbor beyond.”
Examples
simple
“That chocolate cake is to die for.”
contextual
“After a long week of work, I am dying for a quiet weekend at the beach.”
complex
“The view from the penthouse was absolutely to die for, overlooking the entire city skyline and the harbor beyond.”
Usage
often used in the progressive form 'dying for' or the fixed adjectival phrase 'to die for'.
Teaching tip
explain that this is a hyperbolic expression; students should understand it is not literal and is most common when talking about food, fashion, or travel.
Pitfall
I am die for a cold drink.
I am dying for a cold drink.
when expressing a current strong desire, use the present continuous form 'dying for'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
die + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/die-for