Be Dying To Do vs. Dying For Something
Cambridge directly documents be dying for/to do something as an informal expression of strong desire, supporting both complement patterns without extrapolation.
Use “be dying to do something” before an action and “be dying for something” before the thing strongly wanted. Cambridge marks the expression as informal.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| strong informal desire for an action | be dying to + verb | use the infinitive before the wanted action |
| strong informal desire for a thing | be dying for + noun phrase | use “for” before the wanted thing |
Quick tests
Action-or-thing test
Is the object of strong desire an action, or a thing?
If yes: Use “dying to + verb” for an action.
If no: Use “dying for + noun phrase” for a thing.
Caveat: Cambridge marks this desire expression as informal; avoid treating it as neutral wording in every register.
Examples
I am dying to see the finished design.
The desired item is an action, so the infinitive fits.
After the walk, she was dying for a cold drink.
The desired item is a thing introduced by “for.”
In a formal report, replace the idiom with a neutral expression of strong interest or need.
The source marks the idiom as informal.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents the informal idiom be dying to do something and be dying for something for strong desire.
Style Boundary
Keep the idiomatic for + noun and to-infinitive patterns distinct; this usage is informal and figurative.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Be dying for/to do something (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for informal be dying for + noun / to + infinitive.