# die for

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/die-for
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to want something very much because you think it is excellent or beautiful.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am die for a cold drink." but "I am dying for a cold drink." — when expressing a current strong desire, use the present continuous form 'dying for'.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.