benefit



friend with benefits

A friend or acquaintance with whom one has casual sexual interactions without the commitment of a formal relationship. After two long, ultimately painful relationships, I'm just looking to find a friend with benefits these days. John says he and Susan are just friends with benefits, but I think he's falling for her.
See also: benefit, friend

friendship with benefits

A friendship or acquaintance in which the partners engage in casual sexual activity but are not in a formal, committed relationship with one another. After two long, ultimately painful relationships, I'm just looking for friendship with benefits these days.
See also: benefit, friendship

fringe benefit

A non-monetary perk, incentive, or benefit for working a job that is given in addition to one's normal wage or salary. One of the fringe benefits of working here is getting free lunch in the cafeteria.
See also: benefit, fringe

benefit by something

 and benefit from something
to profit or gain by something. We hope to benefit by the collapse of our competition. We will all benefit from the new tax laws.
See also: benefit

benefit of the doubt

a judgment in one's favor when the evidence is neither for one nor against one. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I was right between a B and an A. I got the benefit of the doubtan A. I thought I should have had the benefit of the doubt, but the judge made me pay a fine.
See also: benefit, doubt, of

for one's (own) sake

for one's good or benefit; in honor of someone. I have to earn a living for my family's sake. I did it for my mother's sake.
See also: sake

for someone (or something's) sake

 and for the sake of someone or something
for the purpose or benefit of someone or something; to satisfy the demands of someone or something. I made a meatless dinner for John's sake; he's a vegetarian. The teacher repeated the assignment for the sake of the slower students.
See also: sake

of benefit (to someone)

serving someone well; to the good of someone. I can't believe that this proposal is of benefit to anyone. Oh, I'm sure you'll find the new health plan to be of benefit.
See also: benefit, of

give somebody/something the benefit of the doubt

to decide you will believe someone or something People tell me I shouldn't trust him, but I'm willing to give Simon the benefit of the doubt and wait and see what he actually offers. The American people are usually willing to give the government the benefit of the doubt.
See also: benefit, doubt, give, of

give somebody 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.
See also: benefit, doubt, give, of

give the benefit of the doubt

Regard someone as innocent until proven otherwise; lean toward a favorable view of someone. For example, Let's give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she's right. [Mid-1800s]
See also: benefit, doubt, give, of

benefit of the doubt

A favorable judgment granted in the absence of full evidence.
See also: benefit, doubt, of

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Amable-French (Archaic)
Viola['vaiələ]
Matteamaht-TE-ahItalian
KolbyKOL-beeEnglish (Modern)
Roshan-Persian, Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
ČEdomirCHE-do-meer (Croatian)Serbian, Croatian