PhrasesHub

Without a shadow of a doubt

    Definitions

      • to emphasize certainty
        To express complete confidence in a statement or belief, without any doubt or hesitation

      • to emphasize clarity
        To emphasize that something is very clear and obvious, leaving no room for doubt or confusion

    Examples of Without a shadow of a doubt

    • Sarah aced the exam without a shadow of a doubt.

      This means that Sarah passed the exam with complete certainty and there is no uncertainty or doubt in her performance.

    • The sun will rise tomorrow without a shadow of a doubt.

      This means that the rising of the sun is a certain and reliable occurrence that will take place without any uncertainty or doubt.

    • Maria's cooking is delicious without a shadow of a doubt.

      This means that Maria's cooking is so delicious that there is no doubt or uncertainty about its taste or quality.

    • The election results will be announced tonight without a shadow of a doubt.

      This means that the announcement of the election results is a certain and reliable event that will take place without any uncertainty or doubt.

    • Maria excelled in her exams without a shadow of a doubt. Her hard work and dedication had paid off, and her results were a true reflection of her abilities.

      This idiom is used to express that something is certain or beyond any doubt. It means that Maria's performance in the exams was extraordinary and there is no room for suspicion or doubt about her success.

    • The inspector declared the building completely safe without a shadow of a doubt. After rigorous inspections and tests, it was confirmed that the building was structurally sound and posed no threat to the occupants.

      Here, the idiom highlights the inspector's confidence and certainty about the safety of the building. The use of "without a shadow of a doubt" conveys that the inspector has no reason to believe otherwise, and the building is as safe as it can possibly be.

    • Our customers rave about the quality of our products without a shadow of a doubt. We take pride in delivering top-notch products that exceed our customers' expectations, and their positive feedback is a testament to our commitment to excellence.

      This example uses the idiom in a business context to emphasize the satisfaction and contentment of the company's customers. The use of "without a shadow of a doubt" indicates that the customers are convinced of the superior quality of the products and have no reason to doubt its value.

    • The detective had no doubts about the suspect's guilt after analyzing all the evidence without a shadow of a doubt. The witness testimonies, fingerprints, and CCTV footage all pointed to the suspect, and it was clear that he had committed the crime.

      In this example, the use of the idiom highlights the detective's unwavering confidence in the suspect's guilt. The phrase "without a shadow of a doubt" signifies that the detective is absolutely certain about the suspect's involvement in the crime, and all the evidence supports his judgment.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "without a shadow of a doubt" is used to emphasize certainty and clarity in a statement. It is often used to express complete confidence in a belief or to emphasize that something is very clear and obvious, leaving no room for doubt or confusion.

    Origin of "Without a shadow of a doubt"

    The origin of the idiom "without a shadow of a doubt" can be traced back to the 16th century, where the word "shadow" was used to refer to doubt or suspicion. The phrase "without a shadow of a doubt" is believed to have originated from the legal language, where it was used to emphasize the absolute certainty of a fact or evidence in court. Over time, the expression has become a common idiom in the English language, used to convey unwavering confidence and clarity in a statement.

    Examples of usage can be found in literature from the 17th century, where authors used the phrase to emphasize the absolute certainty of a belief or statement. Today, "without a shadow of a doubt" is widely used in everyday language to express complete confidence and clarity, with its origins rooted in legal and literary contexts.