O ye, of little faith
Definitions
criticize someone for lack of faith or confidence
Express disappointment or disapproval of someone's lack of belief or trust in a particular situation or outcomeencourage someone to have more faith or confidence
Remind someone to have more belief or trust in themselves or in a particular situation
Examples of O ye, of little faith
Emily hesitated to share her business idea with her friends, fearing their skepticism. Her friends chided her, saying, "O ye, of little faith! Why are you so uncertain about your own ideas?"
The phrase "O ye, of little faith" is a biblical idiom that originates from the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible. It is often used to reprimand people for having a lack of faith or a lack of confidence in themselves or their ideas. The friends in this example were trying to encourage Emily to have more faith in herself and her ideas, implying that her doubts were unnecessary and holding her back.
She kept questioning me about our budget, although we had gone over it several times. I sighed and looked at her with a hint of frustration, saying, "O ye, of little faith! We have discussed this enough. Believe me or not, but our finances are in order."
In this example, "O ye, of little faith" is used to emphasize the speaker's frustration with the listener's lack of trust in her financial management skills. The phrase is taken from the Bible (Matthew 14:31) and is used metaphorically to describe someone who lacks confidence or trust in a situation. Here, the user is trying to convey that she has already provided enough evidence to reassure her listener, but the listener still has doubts.
During the job interview, the interviewer asked me skeptical questions about my qualifications. I felt a little taken aback, but responded confidently, "O ye, of little faith! I fully believe that I am the best candidate for this position, and I am more than capable of handling the role."
In this example, "O ye, of little faith" is used to confront the interviewer's doubts about the user's qualifications. The phrase is again borrowed from the Bible and is used to describe someone who has doubts or lacks confidence in a situation. Here, the user is trying to convey that she is confident in her abilities and objects to the interviewer's lack of faith in her.
When my colleague hesitated to take the lead on a new project, I encouraged her, saying, "O ye, of little faith! You are more than capable of handling this project. I believe in you, and have faith that you will do a great job."
In this example, "O ye, of little faith" is used to motivate and reassure the colleague. The phrase is borrowed from the Bible, and is used to describe someone who lacks confidence or trust in a situation. Here, the user is trying to convey that she has faith in her colleague's abilities and urges her to have confidence in herself as well.
During the team meeting, some members expressed doubts about the project's feasibility. I reassured them, saying, "O ye, of little faith! We have a solid plan, and we have the skills and resources to execute it successfully."
In this example, "O ye, of little faith" is used to reassure the team members and alleviate their doubts. The phrase is borrowed from the Bible, and is used to describe someone who lacks confidence or trust in a situation. Here, the user is trying to convey that she has faith in the project's feasibility and the team's ability to execute it successfully, urging the team members to have confidence as well.
Conclusion
The idiom "O ye, of little faith" can be used to criticize someone for their lack of faith or confidence, expressing disappointment or disapproval. It can also be used to encourage someone to have more faith or confidence, reminding them to have more belief or trust in themselves or in a particular situation.Origin of "O ye, of little faith"
The phrase "O ye, of little faith" originates from the Bible, specifically from the New Testament in the book of Matthew. It is a statement made by Jesus Christ in response to the disciples' lack of faith in his ability to calm a storm. The phrase has since been used in literature and everyday language to convey disappointment in someone's lack of faith or confidence. It is often used to encourage individuals to have more belief or trust in themselves and in a higher power. The idiom has become a common way to express frustration or disappointment in someone's lack of faith or confidence. For example, "When I expressed doubt about the project, my boss said, 'O ye, of little faith,' and encouraged me to believe in myself."