false hope

NOUN

[/fɔːls hoʊp/]

a belief or expectation that something good will happen when it is unlikely or impossible

💡 Concept

a belief or expectation that something good will happen when it is unlikely or impossible

🎵 Rhyme

False hope hangs like a frayed rope on the slope

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/fɔːls hoʊp/

🇬🇧 UK/fɒls həʊp/

🌳Etymology

Origin

False derives from Latin falsus, meaning 'deceptive' or 'untrue,' while hope originates from Old English hopian, meaning 'to expect' or 'to desire.' The compound phrase emerged to describe an expectation or desire that is groundless or unlikely to be fulfilled.

Breakdown

false (from Latin falsus, 'deceptive') + hope (from Old English hopian, 'to expect'). The phrase combines an adjective of deception with a noun of expectation to convey an unrealistic or misleading desire.

🎵Rhyme

scoperopeslope

scope

rope

slope

🔗Collocations

give false hope

raise false hope

cling to false hope

dash false hopes

harbor false hope

false hope syndrome

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The dating app kept giving him false hope with fake profiles.”

“Her mother didn't want to give her false hope about her father's recovery.”

“The fortune teller's prediction turned out to be nothing but false hope.”

😄 Fun example

“My diet plan gave me false hope that I could eat pizza and still lose weight.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

vain hopedelusionwishful thinkingpipe dreamillusion

Antonyms

realistic expectationgenuine hopereasonable prospect

disappointmentexpectationoptimismreality checkdisillusionment

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false hope — a belief or expectation that something good will happen when it is unlikely or impossible

Example Sentences