Dictionary of English - behalf

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

To act or speak on behalf of someone or on someone's behalf is to do so as their representative. On behalf of should not be confused with on the part of: a speech on behalf of the Chairman is made by someone else, expressing the Chairman's thoughts: a speech on the part of the Chairman is one he makes himself.

In American English behalf is also used with in, to mean 'in someone's interest', 'for someone's benefit': Several people argued in his behalf.

The top left trigram symbolizes summer, south, and heaven. The top right trigram represents autumn, west, and the moon. The bottom right trigram stands for winter, north, and the Earth. The bottom left trigram represents spring, east, and the sun. Effective date: 21 February 1984. >>