say for
idiom
—used with words such as something, little, a lot, etc., to show that someone or something does or does not deserve to be praised, admired, etc.
It says a lot for her that she stayed in the game even though she was injured.
The students' low test scores don't say much for the education they're receiving.
Examples of say for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists say for humanity to avoid the most catastrophic effects of a hotter climate, most of the world's fossil fuels need to stay in the ground, including nearly half of natural gas reserves.
—
NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
The Indiana people who have helped the Hoosiers secure their own roster can now say for sure that their program has leveled up several times over.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Luckily for the Giants, which sounds odd to say for the team, Dart fits both of those qualities.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
No one can say for sure which camp is right, and which one is wrong.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Blunt had nothing but kind words to say for her Jungle Cruise costar as well.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
No one can say for sure what the tariff rules will be in a month, a year or beyond, and that uncertainty is creating havoc in a farm sector that can’t function efficiently without advance planning.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Coach Jim Harbaugh couldn’t say for certain when asked Thursday.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
What does Vaughan’s story say for others?
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
The Indiana people who have helped the Hoosiers secure their own roster can now say for sure that their program has leveled up several times over.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Luckily for the Giants, which sounds odd to say for the team, Dart fits both of those qualities.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
No one can say for sure which camp is right, and which one is wrong.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Blunt had nothing but kind words to say for her Jungle Cruise costar as well.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
No one can say for sure what the tariff rules will be in a month, a year or beyond, and that uncertainty is creating havoc in a farm sector that can’t function efficiently without advance planning.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Coach Jim Harbaugh couldn’t say for certain when asked Thursday.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
What does Vaughan’s story say for others?
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Say for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/say%20for. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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