Hope, a timeless companion in our journey through life, often finds expression in idioms that add color and nuance to our conversations.
In this exploration, we delve into the intricacies of idioms for hope, unraveling the stories they tell and the resilience they symbolize. So, buckle up for a linguistic adventure as we dissect phrases that paint pictures of optimism, however subtle or bold.
Idioms for Hope
1. To Hold Out Hope
Meaning: To continue to have hope, despite difficult circumstances.
In a Sentence: In the face of adversity, she chose to hold out hope, believing that a brighter tomorrow was just around the corner.
2. A Ray of Hope
Meaning: A small but welcome sign of potential good things to come.
In a Sentence: As the storm cleared, the distant sound of laughter served as a ray of hope, promising a sunnier day ahead.
3. A Beacon of Hope
Meaning: Something or someone that gives guidance or inspiration during difficult times.
In a Sentence: The community center became a beacon of hope, providing solace and support to those grappling with loss.
4. To Cling to Hope
Meaning: To hold on to hope strongly and determinedly.
In a Sentence: Even in the darkest hours, she clung to hope like a lifeline, refusing to succumb to despair.
5. A Glimmer of Hope
Meaning: A small sign that something good may happen.
In a Sentence: The unexpected call from the job interviewer offered a glimmer of hope in his job search.
6. To Pin One’s Hopes On
Meaning: To rely on something or someone to achieve a desired outcome.
In a Sentence: It’s risky to pin all your hopes on a single opportunity; diversify your options for a more secure future.
7. A Sliver of Hope
Meaning: A very small amount of hope.
In a Sentence: Despite the dire circumstances, there remained a sliver of hope that the medicine would work.
8. To Keep Hope Alive
Meaning: To maintain hope, despite setbacks or obstacles.
In a Sentence: The resilient community rallied together to keep hope alive, rebuilding what the storm had taken away.
9. A Breath of Fresh Air
Meaning: A new and positive change that brings hope.
In a Sentence: His promotion was a breath of fresh air for the team, injecting hope and motivation into their endeavors.
10. A Shot in the Dark
Meaning: A risky or uncertain attempt to achieve something, often motivated by hope.
In a Sentence: Launching a startup was a shot in the dark, but her unwavering hope fueled the endeavor.
11. A Faint Hope
Meaning: A hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled.
In a Sentence: As he cast the lottery ticket aside, there lingered only a faint hope of hitting the jackpot.
12. A Spark of Hope
Meaning: A small indication that something good may happen in the future.
In a Sentence: The unexpected apology from a longtime friend sparked a hope for reconciliation.
13. To Raise/Dashed Hopes
Meaning: To give hope and then take it away, in the same instance.
In a Sentence: The promising project raised hopes but was abruptly canceled, leaving the team disheartened.
14. A False Hope
Meaning: An expectation that is unrealistic, often misleading.
In a Sentence: His assurance of an easy victory turned out to be a false hope, and the team faced a tough defeat.
15. A Forlorn Hope
Meaning: A hope which is unlikely to be fulfilled.
In a Sentence: The expedition into the dense jungle felt like a forlorn hope, with each step becoming more uncertain.
16. To Have High Hopes
Meaning: To have great expectations for the future.
In a Sentence: Despite previous failures, she continued to have high hopes for her ambitious project.
17. To Be the Last Hope
Meaning: To be the only remaining possibility for success.
In a Sentence: The backup generator was the last hope for restoring power during the blackout.
18. To Have One’s Hopes Up
Meaning: To be optimistic and expectant.
In a Sentence: With the interview scheduled, she couldn’t help but have her hopes up for a new job.
19. To Live in Hope
Meaning: To always maintain a positive outlook and keep hoping for a positive outcome.
In a Sentence: Despite setbacks, the resilient artist continued to live in hope, believing in the transformative power of creativity.
20. A Faint Hope
Meaning: An unlikely chance of success.
In a Sentence: The improbable alliance offered only a faint hope of negotiating peace between the warring nations.
21. To Chase a Pipe Dream
Meaning: To pursue an unlikely or impossible goal with hope.
In a Sentence: Embarking on a solo world tour at sixty seemed like chasing a pipe dream, but she was determined to make it happen.
22. To Hope Against Hope
Meaning: To keep hoping for something even when the odds are against it.
In a Sentence: The small team hoped against hope for a breakthrough in the challenging research project.
23. To Put Hope in the Back Seat
Meaning: To put hope on hold in order to focus on more pressing matters.
In a Sentence: Amid the crisis, they decided to put hope in the back seat and prioritize immediate action.
24. A Pipe Dream
Meaning: An unrealistic or unlikely hope or ambition.
In a Sentence: Building a utopian society overnight was a pipe dream, but they started with small positive changes.
25. To Keep One’s Fingers Crossed
Meaning: To hope for the best in a situation.
In a Sentence: As the exam results were announced, students kept their fingers crossed, hoping for a positive outcome.
26. A Hope Chest
Meaning: A chest used for storing items for future use, often symbolizing hope for a bright future.
In a Sentence: Opening the family’s hope chest revealed generations of dreams and aspirations stored in handwritten letters.
27. A Straw to Cling To
Meaning: A small hope or possibility that keeps one from giving up.
In a Sentence: In the challenging project, the promising feedback served as a straw to cling to, encouraging the team to persevere.
28. A Wild Goose Chase
Meaning: A futile search for something that is unlikely to be found, often motivated by hope.
In a Sentence: Following the old map felt like a wild goose chase, leading them in circles without discovering the hidden treasure.
29. Hope Springs Eternal
Meaning: People always tend to find hope, no matter how grim the situation is.
In a Sentence: Despite setbacks, hope springs eternal, motivating individuals to rebuild and thrive.
30. To Hope On
Meaning: To continue with hope, even if there is no visible sign of success.
In a Sentence: The athlete decided to hope on, pushing through challenges with unwavering determination.
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| To Hold Out Hope | Continue to have hope, despite difficult circumstances. | Despite adversity, she held out hope for a brighter tomorrow. |
| A Ray of Hope | Small but welcome sign of potential good things to come. | Laughter in the distance served as a ray of hope after the storm. |
| A Beacon of Hope | Something or someone that gives guidance during difficulty. | The community center became a beacon of hope during challenging times. |
| To Cling to Hope | Hold on to hope strongly and determinedly. | In darkness, she clung to hope as a lifeline, refusing to despair. |
| A Glimmer of Hope | Small sign that something good may happen. | The unexpected call offered a glimmer of hope in his job search. |
| To Pin One’s Hopes On | Rely on something or someone for a desired outcome. | It’s risky to pin all your hopes on a single opportunity. |
| A Sliver of Hope | Very small amount of hope. | Despite dire circumstances, there remained a sliver of hope. |
| To Keep Hope Alive | Maintain hope, despite setbacks or obstacles. | The community rallied to keep hope alive, rebuilding after the storm. |
| A Breath of Fresh Air | New and positive change that brings hope. | His promotion was a breath of fresh air, injecting hope into the team. |
| A Shot in the Dark | Risky or uncertain attempt, often motivated by hope. | Launching a startup was a shot in the dark, fueled by unwavering hope. |
| A Faint Hope | Hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled. | The lottery ticket offered only a faint hope of hitting the jackpot. |
| A Spark of Hope | Small indication that something good may happen. | The apology from a friend sparked a hope for reconciliation. |
| To Raise/Dashed Hopes | Give hope and then take it away in the same instance. | The promising project raised hopes but was abruptly canceled. |
| A False Hope | Expectation that is unrealistic, often misleading. | His assurance of an easy victory turned out to be a false hope. |
| A Forlorn Hope | Hope unlikely to be fulfilled. | The expedition into the jungle felt like a forlorn hope. |
| To Have High Hopes | Have great expectations for the future. | Despite failures, she continued to have high hopes for her project. |
| To Be the Last Hope | Only remaining possibility for success. | The backup generator was the last hope for restoring power. |
| To Have One’s Hopes Up | Be optimistic and expectant. | With the interview scheduled, she had her hopes up for a new job. |
| To Live in Hope | Always maintain a positive outlook and keep hoping. | The resilient artist continued to live in hope despite setbacks. |
| A Faint Hope | Unlikely chance of success. | The improbable alliance offered only a faint hope of success. |
| To Chase a Pipe Dream | Pursue an unlikely or impossible goal with hope. | Chasing a solo world tour at sixty felt like a pipe dream. |
| To Hope Against Hope | Keep hoping for something even when the odds are against it. | The team hoped against hope for a breakthrough in the research project. |
| To Put Hope in the Back Seat | Put hope on hold to focus on more pressing matters. | Amid the crisis, they decided to put hope in the back seat. |
| A Pipe Dream | Unrealistic or unlikely hope or ambition. | Building a utopian society overnight was a pipe dream. |
| To Keep One’s Fingers Crossed | Hope for the best in a situation. | Students kept their fingers crossed, hoping for positive exam results. |
| A Hope Chest | Chest used for storing items, symbolizing hope for the future. | Opening the family’s hope chest revealed generations of dreams. |
| A Straw to Cling To | Small hope or possibility that keeps one from giving up. | In the project, positive feedback served as a straw to cling to. |
| A Wild Goose Chase | Futile search for something unlikely to be found, often motivated by hope. | Following the old map felt like a wild goose chase. |
| Hope Springs Eternal | People always tend to find hope, no matter how grim the situation is. | Despite setbacks, hope springs eternal, motivating individuals. |
| To Hope On | Continue with hope, even if there is no visible sign of success. | The athlete decided to hope on, pushing through challenges. |
Conclusion
In the vast tapestry of language, idioms for hope serve as vibrant threads, weaving stories of resilience, optimism, and unwavering determination. From the smallest glimmers to the grandest beacons, these expressions remind us that hope is a universal language, understood by hearts across cultures and time.