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benefit of the doubt
01
an assumption based on trust given to a person or thing, even though one is not entirely sure
What is the origin of the idiom "benefit of the doubt" and when to use it?
The idiom "benefit of the doubt" originated from the legal context, where it refers to the principle of presuming innocence or ascribing a positive interpretation to someone's actions or statements when there is uncertainty or lack of evidence. It signifies granting a favorable judgment or opinion to someone despite doubts or suspicions, giving them the benefit of a more favorable assumption or consideration. The phrase is mainly used to emphasize the fairness and open-mindedness in withholding judgment or criticism until further information or evidence is available.
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I didn't receive a response to my email, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they haven't seen it yet.
It's hard to credit her explanation for being late, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt this time.
She arrived late to the meeting, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt, assuming there was a valid reason for the delay.
Although his explanation seemed unlikely, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt until more facts emerged.
Despite the suspicious circumstances, the jury gave the defendant the benefit of the doubt, acquitting them due to insufficient evidence.
