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Phrasal verb

die for

phrasal verb (informal)
UK /ˈdaɪ fɔː/
US /ˈdaɪ fɔr/

Meanings

phrasal verb (informal)

To want something very much because it seems extremely good, attractive, or desirable.

die for: To want something very much because it seems extremely good, attractive, or desirable.
phrasal verb (informal)

To be extremely good or attractive (said of a thing, place, or experience).

die for: To be extremely good or attractive (said of a thing, place, or experience).

Definition

To die for means to want something very much because you think it is extremely good or attractive.

If something is die for, it is so appealing that you want it intensely. This expression is informal and is usually used to praise food, clothes, places, or experiences. It does not literally mean someone will die.

Examples

  • I’d die for a slice of that chocolate cake right now.
  • You’d die for the view from this balcony at sunset.
  • She’d die for those boots in the shop window.
  • They’d die for a weekend at that quiet lakeside cabin.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use die for literally; it is usually an exaggeration meaning “really want” or “extremely good.”