indulgence
a special treat or luxury
A nice thing you enjoy but do not really need, for example rich food, an extra gift, or an expensive hobby.
[something] is an indulgence for [someone]
- For me, a long hot bath with scented oil is the perfect indulgence after a stressful week.
- He cut back on most expenses, but kept his one indulgence: a daily cup of expensive coffee.
- Staying at a five-star hotel was an indulgence we decided to allow ourselves for our anniversary.
- Chocolate is her guilty indulgence when she is feeling low.
- The spa weekend was a rare indulgence in an otherwise very simple life.
- Ice cream is my favorite indulgence.
- Buying that new phone was an indulgence, but I really wanted it.
- A taxi is an indulgence when you can take the bus.
- Staying in a luxury hotel is an indulgence for most people.
- He is trying to save money, so he only has one small indulgence each week.
the act of doing something too much
When you let yourself do or have something you enjoy, especially too much of it, like too much food, drink, or entertainment.
indulgence in [activity/thing]
- Years of indulgence in rich food and wine eventually took a toll on his health.
- Her occasional indulgence in shopping sprees sometimes left her short of money at the end of the month.
- The article warned against indulgence in social media that eats up all your free time.
- After months of strict dieting, a little indulgence in dessert felt completely deserved.
- The film portrays the slow destruction caused by his indulgence in drugs and parties.
- Too much indulgence in sweets can make you sick.
- His indulgence in video games keeps him up all night.
- She decided that indulgence in alcohol was hurting her life.
- A little indulgence in chocolate is fine, but not every day.
- Indulgence in bad habits is easy; stopping them is hard.
lenient or overly kind attitude
Being too kind or not strict enough with someone, and letting them have or do what they want.
indulgence toward [someone/something]
- Their son’s bad behavior is partly the result of years of parental indulgence.
- The teacher’s indulgence toward late homework made some students lazy.
- He asked the committee for a little indulgence while he explained the delay.
- Excessive indulgence in childhood can make it hard for young adults to hear the word "no."
- I beg your indulgence while I deal with a few technical problems.
- Her parents’ indulgence made the child feel that rules did not matter.
- The coach showed no indulgence to players who were late.
- Too much indulgence can spoil a child.
- The judge showed no indulgence and gave a long sentence.
- I ask for your indulgence as I speak a little longer.
Catholic remission of punishment
In the Roman Catholic Church, an official act that reduces the punishment a person must suffer for sins that are already forgiven.
grant an indulgence to [someone]
- In medieval Europe, the sale of indulgences became a major source of income for the Church.
- The document granted a plenary indulgence to those who fulfilled the required prayers and acts of charity.
- Many historians argue that abuses connected to indulgences helped trigger the Protestant Reformation.
- Pilgrims traveled for days to receive an indulgence announced by the local bishop.
- The catechism explains the conditions under which an indulgence may be obtained.
- In the past, some people paid money to get indulgences from the Church.
- A plenary indulgence removes all of the punishment for sin.
- The idea of indulgences is important in the history of the Reformation.
- The priest spoke about indulgences during the religion class.
- Some Christians today still ask for indulgences during special prayers.
- 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.