benefit

benefit by (something)

To gain from a particular experience, change, or occurrence. We will all benefit by moving to a warmer, sunnier climate. You may hate it now, but I guarantee you will benefit by your time as an intern.
See also: benefit, by

benefit from (something)

To gain from a particular experience, change, or occurrence. We will all benefit from moving to a warmer, sunnier climate. You may hate it now, but I guarantee you will benefit from your time as an intern.
See also: benefit

benefit of discussion

A legal clause entitling a surety the right to have a creditor proceed against the principal debtor first before pursuing the surety for any further payment. Also known as beneficium excussionis. The judge ruled that the because Mr. Smith had not expressly renounced the benefit of discussion clause, the bank could not sue him for payment until they had pursued the owner of the property first.
See also: benefit, of

for (one's) benefit

Largely (or solely) to help one. I hope you're not doing that for my benefit—I don't really have a preference at all. I only said that for your sister's benefit, so she won't worry. Honestly, I don't expect this situation to get better any time soon.
See also: 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

get the benefit of the doubt

To be viewed in a favorable or neutral way when all information is not yet available, rather than being judged or criticized preemptively. You're my sister! Can't I get the benefit of the doubt, instead of you believing the worst about me? OK, you've got the benefit of the doubt, since we know there's probably a good explanation for all this.
See also: benefit, doubt, get, of

give (one) the benefit of (something)

To explain something to one in great detail, often when doing so is unwelcome or unappreciated. Yes, Aunt Ida was so kind as to give me the benefit of the whole story of how she bought peaches by mistake.
See also: benefit, give, of

give (someone or something) the benefit of the doubt

To retain a favorable or at least neutral opinion of someone or something until the full information about the subject is available. You're my sister! Can't you give me the benefit of the doubt, instead of believing the worst about me right away? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt before we start accusing him. There may be a good explanation for the missing money.
See also: benefit, doubt, give, of

of benefit

Giving or acting as a benefit (to someone or something); serving to help, promote, or enhance (someone or something). If you think this new tax law will be of benefit to anyone other than the top 1% of citizens. I've heard enough. There are too many unknowns and not enough of benefit in this proposal for me to accept it.
See also: benefit, of

the benefit of the doubt

The withholding of judgment so as to retain a favorable or at least neutral opinion of someone or something when the full information about the subject is not yet available. You're my sister! Can't you give me the benefit of the doubt, instead of believing the worst about me? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt before we start accusing him. There may be a good explanation.
See also: benefit, doubt, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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, by

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 doubt—an 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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

give someone the benefit of the doubt

COMMON
1. If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you decide to believe that what they are saying is honest, even though it is possible that they are not telling the truth. As to whether she deliberately lied or got the facts wrong, I suppose we could give her the benefit of the doubt.
2. If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you decide to believe that what they are doing is right, even though it is possible that they are doing something wrong. I am basically a trusting person. I make it a practice to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
See also: benefit, doubt, give, of, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

give someone the benefit of

— explain or recount to someone at length (often used ironically when someone pompously or impertinently assumes that their knowledge or experience is superior to that of the person to whom they are talking).
1999 Stage Our courses are delivered by 2 current TV personalities who will give you the benefit of their 6 years experience.
See also: benefit, give, of, someone

the benefit of the doubt

a concession that someone or something must be regarded as correct or justified, if the contrary has not been proved.
See also: benefit, doubt, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

for somebody’s ˈbenefit

especially in order to help or be useful to somebody: There’s no need to repeat everything for my benefit. I have produced some notes for the benefit of those people who weren’t at the meeting.
See also: benefit

give somebody the ˌbenefit of the ˈdoubt

accept that a person is right or innocent because you cannot prove that they are not: She said she was late because of the traffic and I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
See also: benefit, doubt, give, of, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

benefit of the doubt

A favorable judgment granted in the absence of full evidence.
See also: benefit, doubt, of
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

benefit of the doubt, to give/have the

To assume or treat as innocent when there is conflicting evidence. The term comes from the law in many countries, whereby a person must be assumed to be innocent of a crime unless definitely proved to be guilty; in other words, when in doubt, the verdict must be “not guilty.” The expression began to be used figuratively for all kinds of situation in the nineteenth century.
See also: benefit, give, have, of
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • benefit by
  • benefit by (something)
  • benefit from (something)
  • bring (something) into blossom
  • bring into blossom
  • luck out of
  • luck out of (something)
  • base (one's) opinion on
  • base opinion on
  • Bonus!
References in periodicals archive
While it is anybody's guess what changes the future holds, it is certain that a significant risk to your Social Security benefit is making a decision without understanding and evaluating your options.
Cost-Benefit analysis
Though David's benefits will increase by 8 percent each year, Ellen's spousal benefits will remain the same.
Expert analysis using tax facts online
Several other benefits are beginning to spike mature workers' interests.
Working warriors: the growing number of people working beyond common retirement ages offers new opportunities for disability carriers and other insurers
* convene a group of public policy experts, independently chaired, to advise on the meaning and application of public benefit;
"Public interest" in new English charities law could be contentious
Cash balance plans are defined-benefit plans with benefits based on annual credits to a hypothetical account.
Retirement plan strategies: finding the right balance; Expert advice on the implications, pitfalls and opportunities offered by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 is summarized by Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF)
Yet others have taken the second step to become certified as Qualified Empire Zone Enterprises (QEZEs) but have either failed to take advantage of the full complement of benefits or have pursued benefits which are incongruous with their overall tax plan.
Chinatown and Nassau County open Empire Zones for business
Whether or not the period of time of service of the former employer will count toward the vesting of the other post-employment benefits of the current employer usually depends on whether or not there is a written agreement on this issue between the entities.
OPEB unveiled: GASB 45 requires governmental entities to disclose future liabilities
1.132-6(e)(2) provides specific examples of benefits that are not excludible as de minimis fringes.
New IRS focus on fringe benefits
Veterans, who fought for our country, should never have to fight our government to get the benefits a grateful nation has provided as a reward for their sacrifices and service.
Vets shouldn't need to hire lawyers
"Risk may increase if large defined-benefit plans begin to struggle or fail, especially if the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
Best practices in EBP audits: regulatory pressure is heating up the market
Most of the money that is being collected today is going into the Social Security program to pay benefits to current retirees.
Privatizing Social Security: do African Americans stand to gain from President Bush's controversial plan?
Ben Cardin (D-Md.), speaking at another APHA session, warned that legislation that weakens defined benefits for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid jeopardizes the long-term existence of those financing systems.
Social program defenders see the roof falling in
She also says to keep benefit costs down, HR professionals should also look for plans that offer tax savings and can be underwritten to get immediate savings.
Control benefit costs
Scott Voynich, "The launch of the Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center is intended to provide a forum that spurs CPA firms performing audits to make immediate quality improvements to employee benefit audits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, including pension, health and welfare, and 401(k) plans.
Quality Center for Employee Benefit Plan Audits launches--second of three Audit Quality Centers for CPA firms
By incorporating just a few relatively simple principles into their business planning and accounting, health executives can quantify some of the financial benefits of their technology investments.
Achieving hi-tech ROI