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benefit of the doubt

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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

benefit of the doubt

A favorable judgment granted in the absence of full evidence.

See also: benefit, doubt, of