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faith
lose (one's) faith (in something or someone)
To stop believing (in someone or something); to become disillusioned, embittered, or doubtful (about something or someone). (When said simply as "lose faith," it is often in reference to losing religious faith in God.) The staff have started losing faith in John's ability to manage the restaurant properly. I lost my faith in my friends ever since they turned their backs on me when my husband left. It's not uncommon to lose faith at some point in one's life, but God will reveal himself to you if you're willing to receive Him.
act of faith
1. An action that reveals or proves one's religious devotion. In my sister's religion, walking on hot coals is an act of faith.
2. An action that reveals or proves one's interest or trustworthiness. The millionaire investor is meeting with us as an act of faith, so our presentation has to be absolutely perfect!
3. An action that tests one's morals and/or beliefs. Leaving your infant with another person is a real act of faith when you're a new mom.
an article of faith
Something that one believes strongly, whether or not it is actually true. My mother takes it as an article of faith that the government is always right and should never be questioned. In prep school, it is taken as an article of faith that everyone must go on to college.
an act of faith
an act or deed demonstrating religious faith; an act or deed showing trust in someone or something. For him to trust you with his safety was a real act of faith.
Faith will move mountains.
Prov. If you believe in what you are doing, you can overcome any obstacle. (Sometimes refers to faith in God.) Jane's faith in her cause could move mountains. You may feel disheartened sometimes, but remember that faith will move mountains.
have faith in someone
to believe someone; to trust someone to do or be what is claimed. I have faith in you. I know you will try your best. We have faith in you and know you can do the job well.
in bad faith
Fig. without sincerity; with bad or dishonest intent; with duplicity. It appears that you acted in bad faith and didn't live up to the terms of our agreement. If you do things in bad faith, you'll get a bad reputation.
in good faith
Fig. with good and honest intent; with sincerity. We are convinced you were acting in good faith, even though you made a serious error. I think you didn't sign the contract in good faith. You never intended to carry out our agreement.
keep faith with someone
to be loyal to someone. I intend to keep faith with my people and all they stand for. We could not keep faith with them any longer.
*leap of faith
Fig. acceptance of an idea or conclusion largely on faith. (*Typically: be ~; make ~; require ~.) We had to make quite a leap of faith to accept his promise after the last time he let us down.
Oh, ye of little faith.
Fig. You who trust no one. (Jocular; the word ye is an old form of you used in the Bible.) You thought I wouldn't show up on time? Oh, ye of little faith.
pin one's faith on someone or something
and pin one's hopes on someone or somethingFig. to fasten one's faith or hope to someone or something. Don't pin your faith on Tom. He can't always do exactly what you want. He pinned his hopes on being rescued soon.
restore someone's trust in something
and restore someone's belief in something; restore someone's faith in somethingto reinstate someone's belief, faith, trust, etc., in something. I knew that a good performance on the test would restore my parents' belief in me. Her faith was restored in the government.
show good faith
to demonstrate good intentions or good will. I'm certain that you showed good faith when you signed the contract. Do you doubt that she is showing good faith?
take something on faith
to accept or believe something on the basis of little or no evidence. Please try to believe what I'm telling you. Just take it on faith. Surely you can't expect me to take a story like that on faith.
an article of faith
something that is accepted as being true The importance of a balanced budget had become an article of faith among conservatives.
keep faith with somebody/something
(slightly formal) to be loyal to someone or something It is unusual for any official to keep faith with promises made when trying to win an election.
take somebody/something on faith
to believe someone or something without proof You will have to take it on faith that the information I am asking for is really important.
an article of faith
something that someone believes very strongly without thinking about whether it could be wrong It was an article of faith with Mona that everything she used should be recycled.
break faith with something/somebody
(formal) to stop supporting an idea or person, especially by not doing what you promised to do She claims that the government has broken faith with teachers by failing to give additional funds to education.
in good faith
if you act in good faith, you believe that what you are doing is right and legal His defence was that he had acted in good faith. He did not know when he bought the car that it had been stolen.
keep faith with something/somebody
(formal) to continue to support an idea or person, especially by doing what you promised to do Has the company kept faith with its promise to invest in training?
act of faith
Behavior that shows or tests a person's religious or other convictions, as in Rock climbing with a new, inexperienced partner was a real act of faith. The term is a translation of the Portuguese auto da fé, which referred to the sentencing and execution of heretics (often by burning at the stake) during the Inquisition, when punishing heresy was thought to constitute an assertion of faith. In modern times it is used for more benign circumstances. [Early 1700s]
good faith
in bad faith
With the intention of deceiving someone or doing harm, as in I'm sure they were acting in bad faith and never planned to pay us. This expression was first recorded in 1631. The antonym, in good faith, meaning "sincerely and honestly," as in I signed that contract in good faith, dates from about 1350.
in good faith
leap of faith
A belief or trust in something intangible or incapable of being proved. For example, It required a leap of faith to pursue this unusual step of transplanting an animals' heart into a human patient .
on faith, take it
Trust, accept without proof, as in I have no firm evidence that Bob's responsible for the errors-you'll just have to take it on faith . This idiom employs faith in the sense of "belief or confidence in something," a usage dating from about 1300.
pin one's hopes on
Also, pin one's faith on. Put one's hope or trust in someone or something, as in She'd pinned her hopes on an early acceptance to the college but it didn't materialize. This term, dating from the 1500s, originated as pin one's faith on another's sleeve and may have alluded to the practice of soldiers wearing their leader's insignia on their sleeves. By the 1800s, however, it acquired its present form.
Keep the faith (baby)!
exclam. a statement of general encouragement or solidarity. You said it! Keep the faith, baby!
Keep the faith !
verb in faith
Indeed; truly.
leap of faith
The act or an instance of believing or trusting in something intangible or incapable of being proved.