gift from God

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablereligion

   Something wonderful received, regarded as a blessing from a divine source, such as a talent, a child or a piece of luck.

   Grammar: Usually with an or the: she called her baby a gift from God.

   Patterns

   • a gift from God
   • see something as a gift from God

   Their daughter was a gift from God after years of waiting.

   He believed his musical talent was a gift from God.

   The rain felt like a gift from God after the long drought.

2. 2nouncountableinformalfigurative

   Someone or something that arrives at exactly the right time and is extremely helpful.

   Grammar: Informal and emphatic; usually followed by to someone.

   Patterns

   • a gift from God to someone

   The new assistant has been a gift from God to our small office.

   That free ticket was a gift from God, because I had no money for the trip.

   The plumber turned up just in time, a gift from God.

Word forms

Common combinations

a true gift from God

Many parents call their children a true gift from God.

consider something a gift from God

She considers every day a gift from God.

seem like a gift from God

The cool breeze seemed like a gift from God.

thank for a gift from God

They thanked heaven for this gift from God.

Synonyms and how they differ

godsend

Godsend is the common secular word for unexpected help and is less explicitly religious.

blessing

Blessing is wider and can be used without a religious meaning.

miracle

A miracle implies something impossible happened, while a gift from God suggests generosity.

windfall

A windfall is unexpected money or luck and has no religious meaning.

Opposites

Word family

gift noun

something given

gifted adjective

naturally talented

godsend noun

a lucky help

Commonly confused: gift from God or godsend?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “gift from God”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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