Confide in
/kənˈfaɪd ɪn/
phrasal verbB2
Definition
"Confide in" means to tell someone your secrets, problems, or private thoughts because you trust them. It is usually about sharing something personal that you do not want many people to know. This phrase shows a close and trusting relationship between people.
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⚡ See It in Action
To share private thoughts or secrets with someone trusted
- •She confides in her sister whenever she feels sad.
- •It’s important to have someone you can confide in during hard times.
- •He confided in his best friend about his worries.
To trust someone with personal information
- •Many people confide in therapists to feel better.
- •You should only confide in people who respect your feelings.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "confide in" like "tell," but only to people you trust deeply, not just anyone.
- ✓Picture whispering a secret to a close friend, feeling safe and understood.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you need help or advice and choose someone who cares to listen.
- ✓Sounds like "con-FIDE in" → imagine a friend who "fides" (sounds like "fides," Latin for trust), so you trust them to keep your secret.
- ✓Think of stories where characters share secrets only with their best friends or family.
- ✓NOT like "shout" or "tell" loudly to everyone; "confide in" is quiet and private.
- ✓NOT like "complain" (which can be negative), "confide in" is sharing with trust and hope for help.
- ✓NOT like "ask" (requesting information), but "confide in" is giving information about yourself.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Trust: to believe someone will keep your secret (Use when emphasizing belief in someone’s honesty)
- •Share: to give information or feelings to someone else (Use when the focus is on giving information, less about secrecy)
- •Open up to: to start talking honestly about feelings (Use when emphasizing becoming more honest and emotional)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "con-" (together, with) + "fide" (trust, from Latin "fidere") + particle "in" (shows direction towards a person)
- •Etymology: "Confide" comes from Latin meaning to trust fully; "in" shows the person you trust
- •Historical development: Originally meant to trust or have faith in someone; now used mostly for sharing secrets or private thoughts
- •Modern usage: Commonly used when talking about personal relationships and emotional support
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Who is someone you feel comfortable to confide in, and why do you trust them?
•How does confiding in others help people feel better or solve problems?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When people confide in a friend, they usually ___ that the friend will keep their secret safe.
2.You should only confide in someone if you ___ they will listen and not judge you.
3.Unlike telling a story to many people, to confide in someone means to share ___ information privately.
4.Sometimes people find it easier to confide in a professional like a therapist ___ a family member.
5.If you don’t trust a person, you probably won’t want to confide in ___.
6.When someone confides in you, it is important to ___ their feelings and keep their confidence.
7.People often confide in others when they feel ___ or need advice.