- Home
- Idioms
- judgment
judgment
a Daniel come to judgement
A person who is or has been able to wisely resolve a particularly difficult problem or dispute. Coined by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, it alludes to the Biblical character Daniel, who was renowned for having excellent faculties of judgment. Primarily heard in UK. The newly elected prime minister has been a Daniel come to judgement, finally brokering a peace between the two warring countries.
judgment call
1. A subjective decision made based on one's own experience or viewpoint. Because of the impending snowstorm, it was a judgment call whether I should attempt driving to work.
2. In sports, a decision made by a game official based on what he or she has seen take place. The decision to issue the team a penalty was definitely a judgment call by the referee.
against (one's) better judgment
In spite of one's apprehension or objections. Against his better judgment, Joe let his daughter attend her friend's party. I allowed my obnoxious co-worker to accompany me on my work trip, against my better judgment.
(I've) seen better.
a noncommittal and not very positive judgment about something or someone. Alice: How did you like the movie? John: I've seen better. Bill: What do you think about this weather? Bob: Seen better.
(I've) seen worse.
a noncommittal and not totally negative judgment about something or someone. Alice: How did you like the movie? John: I've seen worse. Bill: What do you think about this weather? Gladys: Seen worse.
pass judgment (on someone or something)
to make a judgment about someone or something. I should not pass judgment on you, but I certainly could give you some good advice about how to be more pleasant. The judge passed judgment on the defendant, who was then taken away to prison.
sit in judgment (up)on someone or something
to make a judgment about someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I don't want to sit in judgment upon you or anyone else, but I do have some suggestions. There is no need to sit in judgment on the proposal at this time.
against your better judgment
not the best decision you believe you could make I wasn't surprised when Scott's business failed because I had lent him the money for it against my better judgment.
pass judgment on somebody/something
to express a strong opinion about someone or something
Don't pass judgment on the exhibit until you've seen it for yourself. Usage notes: the opinion is usually not likely to be changed
sit in judgment (of somebody)
1. to decide whether someone is guilty or not guilty of something The men and women who sit in judgment of the bomber can decide whether or not he is put to death for his crime.
2. to decide whether someone is good or bad
There is a committee that sits in judgment of every job applicant, and they can be very harsh. Usage notes: sometimes used to suggest that someone sitting in judgment should not be: How can they sit in judgment of anyone when they have so little experience?
sit in judgment (of something)
to decide whether something is good or bad I should probably not be allowed to sit in judgment of movies made for teens.
a judgment call
(American) a decision someone has to make using their own ideas and opinions
Usage notes: In sport, a judgment call is a decision made by an official in a competition using their own opinion of what they have seen.
It's a judgment call - do we go by plane or risk taking the car to the conference. sit in judgment on/over somebody
to say that what someone has done is morally wrong, believing yourself to be better We none of us have the right to sit in judgment on our fellow man.
against one's better judgment
Despite serious misgivings or objections, as in Against my better judgment, I told her to come whenever she pleased.
snap judgment
A hurried or impetuous decision or finding, as in George was known for making snap judgments on personnel questions; he rarely bothered to investigate further . This expression, which uses snap in the sense of "quick," was first recorded in 1841.