verify

trust, but verify

Have faith in someone or something, but be sure to confirm their trustworthiness independently. The phrase comes from the Russian proverb ???????, ?? ???????? (doveryai, no proveryai), popularized in English by US President Ronald Reagan. A: "I want to believe her, and I don't want to offend her, but ultimately I'm skeptical." B: "Trust, but verify. Make a phone call to confirm what she's saying is true." Of course I don't doubt that everyone on the team is putting in the hours they are supposed to, but I wouldn't be a very good manager if I didn't make sure. Trust, but verify, right? When it comes to political alliances, the old maxim always stands true—trust, but verify.
See also: but, verify

verify (something) with (someone or something)

To check with someone, some group, or some establishment that something is accurate or correct. I'll have to verify that with the boss before I can sign off on it. We've been trying to verify the information with the State Department.
See also: verify
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

verify something with someone

to check with someone to make sure that something is the truth. I will have to verify your story with the storekeeper. I verified your story with the other witness.
See also: verify
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • trust, but verify
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • better bend than break
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
  • Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.
References in periodicals archive
Failure to maintain original inventory records sufficient to enable the Service to verify LIFO calculations could fail the record-keeping requirement and permit termination" Further, it stated that adequacy of records is a case-by-case determination (Rev.
LIFO recordkeeping and compliance
Part-specific instructions combined with visual inspection for proper sand level at various stages are utilized to verify proper selection of a part-specific "recipe" and ensure proper equipment operation.
'Shop-floor' process controls for lost foam
* Retention of historical transactions, summary and control of total reports to verify and establish a level of reliability for the electronic data.
Update on FTA EDI Audit and Legal Issues Task Force
Using a paper ballot to verify touch screen input is better than no verification at all.
What Robert's Rules of Order can teach us about electronic voting standards
The sooner a man begins to verify all he hears the better it is for him.
On verifying the accuracy of information: philosophical perspectives
Unisys engineers are using Denali's PureSpec verification IP to model, simulate, and verify the interface between Unisys chips and other PCI Express compliant devices.
Unisys selects Denali for PCI Express interface development
* Use numbered purchase orders when buying goods, and issue to employees who receive items (a kitchen manager or prep cook, for example) a list of these numbers to verify an order was actually placed.
Tips to track deliveries
The Service will use internal data to verify return items, to the extent possible.
The "new" IRS audits
The Department of the Treasury, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and the seven federal financial regulators on April 30, 2003, issued final rules that require certain financial institutions to establish procedures to verify the identity of new account holders.
Announcements
Trust, but verify: Ronald Reagan's philosophical mantra during arms treaty negotiations with the Soviets in the 1980s was based on the premise that when it comes to human nature, without verification, trust eventually is eroded.
Verification key to financial market rebound. (Viewpoint)
At mills and smelters, analyzers primarily are used to verify the scrap metal that is going into a particular charge, Anderson says.
Checks & balances: metal analyzers can help improve a scrap dealer's profit margin and reputation. (Metal Analyzers)