confidence
belief in one's own abilities
The feeling that you can do something well and are sure about yourself.
[someone] has confidence in [oneself/something]
- She spoke with great confidence during the meeting.
- After months of practice, he finally had the confidence to perform on stage.
- The teacher's praise gave me more confidence in my abilities.
- His confidence grew as he gained more experience.
- I have confidence in my work.
- She talks with confidence.
- He has confidence to try new things.
- The coach helped me get more confidence.
trust in someone or something
The feeling that you can trust someone or something.
confidence in [someone/something]
- I have complete confidence in her leadership.
- The public's confidence in the government has decreased.
- We placed our confidence in the team's ability to win.
- I have confidence in my friend.
- We have confidence in our teacher.
- He lost confidence in the plan.
secret told to someone trusted
Something private you tell to someone you trust, expecting them not to tell anyone else.
in confidence
- He told me the news in strict confidence.
- She shared a personal confidence with her best friend.
- Revealing that information would be betraying a confidence.
- I told her my story in confidence.
- He shared a confidence with me.
- Please keep this in confidence.
- Base: confidence
- Plural: confidence, confidences
confidence trick
1fraud using gained trust
A dishonest act where someone gains your trust to cheat you.
- He was caught running a classic confidence trick.
- The scam was just another confidence trick.
in confidence
1privately and secretly
If you say something in confidence, you tell it privately and expect it not to be told to others.
- She told me about her plans in confidence.
- This information was given to us in confidence.
shake someone's confidence
1reduce trust or self-assurance
To make someone less sure about themselves or something they believe in.
- The loss shook the team's confidence.
- Her mistake shook her confidence in her abilities.
vote of confidence
1formal show of support
An action or statement that shows you support someone or something.
- The board gave the CEO a vote of confidence.
- Winning the award was a vote of confidence from her peers.
boost someone's confidence
1Increase someone's confidence
To help someone believe in themselves more.
- Her kind words really boosted my confidence before the interview.
- Winning the competition boosted his confidence.
boost someone's confidence
2increase self-assurance
To make someone feel more sure about what they can do.
- The teacher's kind words really boosted my confidence.
- Scoring early in the game boosted the team's confidence.