I would murder for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I would murder for" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used in a hyperbolic or exaggerated manner to express a strong desire for something. Example: "I would murder for a slice of that chocolate cake right now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I would murder for a cheeseburger," said Thomson.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He'd look over the graphs from the scale while I made jokes about how I'd murder for a cider, how I missed bread more than certain dead relatives, or how split squats feel like your legs are trying to violently emancipate themselves from your body.

Vice

I would murder someone for my husband to have summers off and am salivating thinking about all the home projects that we could complete.

Huffington Post

Plenty of forlorn souls at Barrio would murder for a chance to see a show which appears to have earned its fifth star since this review by Mark Fisher back in 2011.

The Guardian

Another added that they would "murder for Helen Mirren" because of course.

HuffPost

I'd murder you for that if you were a business".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Would I murder for them?

Huffington Post

I have a massive amount of lush, thick silvery hair that most bald men would murder me for and I have great skin.

Huffington Post

Asked if they believed the government would murder Americans for strategic reasons, all three, without pausing, said yes.

Los Angeles Times

No Salthill husband would murder his wife literally!" For though "Middle Age" is subtitled "A Romance," this is a novel of the battle between the sexes.

The New York Times - Books

Gyms, for example, would murder to only churn 0.3% of its customers every month.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I would murder for" sparingly and in contexts where hyperbole is appropriate. Overusing it can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "I would murder for" in situations where a literal interpretation could be misconstrued or cause offense. The phrase is intended as a figure of speech.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I would murder for" functions as an expressive idiom used to convey a strong desire or craving. It is a hyperbolic statement that isn't meant to be taken literally, but to emphasize the intensity of one's wish as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I would murder for" is a grammatically correct, albeit informal, phrase used to express a strong desire, typically in hyperbolic terms. As stated by Ludwig AI, it's best suited for informal contexts and should be used sparingly to avoid diminishing its impact. While the phrase is understood and relatively common, be mindful of its potential for misinterpretation and avoid using it in formal or sensitive situations. Alternatives like "I would kill for" or "I'm desperate for" might be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I would kill for

Uses "kill" instead of "murder", implying a slightly less extreme, but still hyperbolic, desire.

I'm dying for

Similar to "I would kill for", expressing a strong, almost humorous, desire.

I would die for

Emphasizes the importance of the desired object or experience, suggesting a willingness to sacrifice oneself.

I'm desperate for

Indicates a state of intense need or longing for something.

I'm craving

Expresses a strong and persistent desire, often for food or other sensory pleasures.

I yearn for

Suggests a deep, often wistful, longing for something.

I long for

Similar to "yearn for", but can also imply a sense of nostalgia.

I have a strong desire for

A more formal and explicit way of expressing a strong wish.

I badly want

A straightforward expression of wanting something intensely.

I'm hungry for

Expresses a desire, originally food-related, is expanded beyond food.

FAQs

What does "I would murder for" mean?

The phrase "I would murder for" is a hyperbolic expression indicating a very strong desire for something. It doesn't literally mean the speaker would commit murder.

Is it okay to use "I would murder for" in formal writing?

No, "I would murder for" is considered informal and should be avoided in formal writing. Use a more appropriate phrase like "I strongly desire" or "I am eager to have".

What can I say instead of "I would murder for"?

You can use alternatives like "I would kill for", "I would die for", or "I'm desperate for" depending on the context.

Is "I would murder for" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I would murder for" is grammatically correct. The structure follows standard English grammar rules for expressing conditional desires.