The benefit of the doubt

[Q]

I can't understand how that translates into 'forgiving' or whatever it's suppose to do.

Benefit = good
doubt = not sure

So how do those two terms make sense? I have no idear. Someone esplain

 

[SunnyD]

I was going to write something, but it made too little sense.

 

[MrChad]

If you have doubt about a situation, you may be waffling between two different opinions. One opinion may be favorable and the other not favorable. Giving the benefit of the doubt means that you'll lean towards the favorable/optimistic opinion instead of the non-favorable one.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Doubt has two ends. Either you doubt someone's statement/story or you doubt it's a lie. Giving someone "the benefit of the doubt" means you're going to take the high road and take their word at face value.

 

[Brainonska511]

I see it as you're cutting the person some slack in saying that whatever went wrong maybe wasn't their fault.

Edit:
Or what mrSHEiK said.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

I don't know if you stole the money, maybe you did and maybe you didn't. Because there is doubt, I'll assume that you didn't. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. In other words, you benefit from the fact that there is doubt.

 

[Q]

OMG MY BRAIN

 

[CRXican]

wow

really?

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: MrChad
If you have doubt about a situation, you may be waffling between two different opinions. One opinion may be favorable and the other not favorable. Giving the benefit of the doubt means that you'll lean towards the favorable/optimistic opinion instead of the non-favorable one.

This is a pretty good explanation.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: MrChad
If you have doubt about a situation, you may be waffling between two different opinions. One opinion may be favorable and the other not favorable. Giving the benefit of the doubt means that you'll lean towards the favorable/optimistic opinion instead of the non-favorable one.

This is a pretty good explanation.

mmm....waffles...

 

[sdifox]

Benefit of doubt, not the doubt.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: sdifox
Benefit of doubt, not the doubt.

I've never heard benefit of doubt.

http://dictionary.infoplease.com/benefit-of-the-doubt
no entry for benefit of doubt

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/benefit_of_the_doubt
no entry for benefit of doubt

http://dictionary.reference.co...efit+of+the+doubt&r=66
no entry for benefit of doubt

http://idioms.thefreedictionar...e+benefit+of+the+doubt
no entry for benefit of doubt

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: sdifox
Benefit of doubt, not the doubt.

I've never heard benefit of doubt.

http://dictionary.infoplease.com/benefit-of-the-doubt
no entry for benefit of doubt

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/benefit_of_the_doubt
no entry for benefit of doubt

http://dictionary.reference.co...efit+of+the+doubt&r=66
no entry for benefit of doubt

http://idioms.thefreedictionar...e+benefit+of+the+doubt
no entry for benefit of doubt

There is no specific doubt, so the doubt doesn't make sense. Unfortunately, no one agrees with me 🙂

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: sdifox
Benefit of doubt, not the doubt.

yea, its 'of the' doubt

reasoning is that 'benefit of doubt' wouldn't single out 'the doubt' one is experiencing, the specific 'doubt' that benefit can be had of.

akak 'benefit of the doubt that I am feeling about the situation'