Meaning & use
to die for
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Extremely good, attractive, or desirable; so wonderful that it seems worth dying for.
Grammar: Comes after a noun: 'a dessert to die for'. It does not change form and is not used before a noun.
Patterns
- something is to die for
- a [noun] to die for
The chocolate cake at that café is to die for.
She wore a dress to die for at the party.
The view from the hotel room was to die for.
Common combinations
- absolutely to die for
- The seafood platter was absolutely to die for.
- a view to die for
- The cabin has a view to die for.
- a dessert to die for
- They serve a dessert to die for—you must try it.
- look to die for
- She looked to die for in that red dress.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delicious
- Used mainly for food and drink; 'to die for' is stronger and more informal, and can describe anything desirable.
- amazing
- A general word for something very good; 'to die for' is more dramatic and often sounds exaggerated in a fun way.
- out of this world
- Also means extremely good, but it is a separate idiom and can sound a bit old-fashioned.
Opposites
Commonly confused: to die for or die for?
to die for vs die for
The literal meaning is 'to give your life for someone or something'. 'To die for' as an idiom means 'extremely good', not literally dying.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'to die for' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'To die for' is a fixed phrase placed after a noun to mean 'extremely good'. 'Die for' without 'to' is not the idiom, and 'to die' or 'dying for' change the meaning completely.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to die for”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.