I always like to give people the shadow of the doubt

Albie, a malaphor follower,  overheard one of his friends in conversation talking about someone who they thought was lying to them. He said “Now, I always like to give people the shadow of the doubt, but…”  This is a mash up of  “benefit of the doubt” (a judgment in one’s favor when neither the evidence is for or against one) and “without (or beyond) a shadow of a doubt” (without the smallest of doubt).  Certainly the word “doubt” used in each phrase and as a noun contributed to the mix up.  For me, giving the shadow of the doubt conjures up the Reagan expression, “trust but verify”.   A big thank you to Albie for sending this one in!