indulgence
A nice thing you enjoy but do not really need, for example rich food, an extra gift, or an expensive hobby.
Something pleasant that a person allows themselves, which is not necessary and is often expensive or not very good for them.
When you let yourself do or have something you enjoy, especially too much of it, like too much food, drink, or entertainment.
The action of allowing yourself to enjoy something, especially something that is not good for you or is done in excessive amounts.
Being too kind or not strict enough with someone, and letting them have or do what they want.
A kind, often overly tolerant attitude that allows someone to do what they want, especially when this means not being strict enough.
In the Roman Catholic Church, an official act that reduces the punishment a person must suffer for sins that are already forgiven.
In Roman Catholic teaching, a formal remission of part or all of the temporal punishment for sins, granted by Church authority under certain conditions.
- Base: indulgence
- Plural: indulgence, indulgences
a small indulgence
1a little treat or luxury
A small thing you enjoy but do not really need, often as a reward to yourself.
- A slice of cake after dinner is a small indulgence I allow myself on Fridays.
- She cut most costs, but still keeps a small indulgence: fresh flowers on the table each week.
- For many people, a morning latte is just a small indulgence that makes the day nicer.
guilty indulgence
1pleasure you feel a bit bad about
A treat or pleasure that you enjoy but also feel a little bad about, for example because it is unhealthy or expensive.
- Trashy reality TV is my guilty indulgence after work.
- Her guilty indulgence is eating fast food in the car where no one can see her.
- He calls late-night online shopping his guilty indulgence.
I beg your indulgence
1formal request for patience
A very polite way to ask people to be patient, kind, or forgiving while you do or explain something.
- I beg your indulgence while we resolve these technical difficulties.
- If I may, I beg your indulgence for just a few more minutes of your time.
- Ladies and gentlemen, I beg your indulgence as we rearrange the program.
indulgence in [something]
1doing or having something too much
When you let yourself do or have a lot of a particular thing, often something that is not good for you.
- Indulgence in alcohol was a major problem in the small town.
- The doctor warned against indulgence in sugary snacks between meals.
- His constant indulgence in video games hurt his school work.
my one indulgence
1the only treat I keep
The only special or extra thing that you still allow yourself, when you do not spend much on other pleasures.
- I live very cheaply; good coffee is my one indulgence.
- He gave up smoking and drinking, and now travel is his one indulgence.
- Fresh strawberries in winter are my one indulgence, even though they are expensive.
over-indulgence
1excess in giving or taking
Too much indulgence; when someone gives or takes far more pleasure, food, drink, or freedom than is healthy or good.
- Over-indulgence in sweets can cause serious health problems.
- The article links over-indulgence in childhood to later problems with self-control.
- After a weekend of over-indulgence, she went back to a strict diet.
parental indulgence
1overly lenient parenting style
When parents are too kind or not strict enough, and let their children do or have too many things.
- The article blamed parental indulgence for many classroom behavior problems.
- Parental indulgence can make it hard for children to learn self-control.
- He grew up with a lot of parental indulgence and found adult life surprisingly tough.
self-indulgence
1too much focus on own pleasure
When a person lets themselves have or do too many things just because they feel good, without thinking about limits or other people.
- The author dismisses the book as an exercise in self-indulgence.
- A little self-indulgence is fine, but he takes it to extremes.
- She decided that constant self-indulgence was making her unhappy in the long run.
weekend indulgence
1special treat on weekends
A special thing you only do or have on weekends, like a big breakfast or a long bath.
- A long brunch is my weekend indulgence.
- For them, a movie and pizza night is the weekend indulgence they look forward to all week.
- Many people see sleeping late as a harmless weekend indulgence.
with your indulgence
1with your kind permission
A formal way to say "if you will kindly allow me" before you do or say something.
- With your indulgence, I would like to address one final issue.
- With your indulgence, I will skip the detailed figures and move to the conclusion.
- With your indulgence, let me answer those questions together.