hope

Hope

I. Hope, Anthony BrE AmE
(1863–1933) a British writer known especially for his adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda
II. Hope, Bob BrE AmE
(1903–2003) a US actor and ↑comedian, born in the UK, who appeared in many humorous films such as Road to Singapore (1940) and The Paleface (1948). He was known for his special style of humour, which was based on ↑one-liners (=very short, clever jokes), and for entertaining soldiers during wartime.
 

hope

I. hope¹ S1 W1 /həʊp $ hoʊp/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Word Family: noun: hope, hopefulness ≠ hopelessness, hopeful; verb: hope; adverb: hopefully ≠ hopelessly; adjective: hopeful ≠ hopeless]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hopian]
1. to want something to happen or be true and to believe that it is possible or likely
hope (that)
We hope that more women will decide to join the course.
I do hope everything goes well.
It was hoped that the job would be filled by a local person.
Let’s just hope someone finds her bag.
I hope to God I haven’t left the car window open.
hope to do something
Joan’s hoping to study law at Harvard.
hope for
We were hoping for good weather.
Liam decided to ignore the warning and just hope for the best (=hope that a situation will end well when there is a risk of things going wrong).
I rang my parents, hoping against hope (=hoping for something that is very unlikely to happen or be true) that they hadn’t left yet.
► Do not say that you ‘hope something would happen’. Say that you hope something will happen: I hope the weather will be nice (NOT I hope the weather would be nice).
2. I hope so spoken used to say that you hope something that has been mentioned happens or is true:
‘Do we get paid this week?’ ‘I certainly hope so!’
3. I hope not spoken used to say that you hope something that has been mentioned does not happen or is not true:
I don’t think I’m busy that day, or at least I hope not.
4. I’m hoping spoken used to say that you hope something will happen, especially because you are depending on it
I’m hoping (that)
I’m hoping the car will be fixed by Friday.
I’m hoping to do something
We were hoping to see you today.
5. I hope (that) spoken used when you want to be polite and to make sure that you are not interrupting or offending someone:
I hope I’m not interrupting you.
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why are you moving?
6. I should hope so (too) (also I should hope not British English) spoken used to say that you feel very strongly that something should or should not happen:
‘They’ll get their money back.’ ‘I should hope so too, after being treated like that.’
II. hope² S2 W2 BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: hope, hopefulness ≠ hopelessness, hopeful; verb: hope; adverb: hopefully ≠ hopelessly; adjective: hopeful ≠ hopeless]
1. FEELING [uncountable and countable] a feeling of wanting something to happen or be true and believing that it is possible or likely:
When I first arrived in New York, I was full of hope for the future.
the hope that
The President has expressed the hope that relations will improve.
hopes for something
hopes for an end to the fighting
hopes of doing something
Rita has hopes of studying to be a nurse.
in the hope that
Should they hang on in the hope that the shares will go up in value?
in the hope of doing something (=because you hope that you will do something)
Shoppers flocked to the sales in the hope of finding a bargain.
2. SOMETHING YOU HOPE FOR [countable] something that you hope will happen:
She told him all her secret hopes and fears.
sb’s hope is that
My hope is that by next summer I’ll have saved enough money to go travelling.
3. CHANCE [uncountable and countable] a chance of succeeding or of something good happening
hope of
It was the rush hour, and there was no hope of getting a seat.
It was a desperate plan, with little hope of success.
hope (that)
There’s still a faint hope (=a very small chance) that the two sides will reach an agreement.
not a hope! spoken (=used to say that there is no chance of something happening)
not a hope in hell (of doing something) spoken (=not even the smallest chance of success)
They don’t have a hope in hell of winning.
some hope! (also what a hope! )British English spoken (=used humorously to say that there is no chance that something will happen)
‘Your dad might lend you the car.’ ‘Some hope!’
4. be sb’s last/only/best hope to be someone’s last, only etc chance of getting the result they want:
Please help me. You’re my last hope.
be sb’s last/only/best hope of
Joshua’s only hope of survival was a heart transplant.
5. be beyond hope if a situation is beyond hope, it is so bad that there is no chance of any improvement
be beyond hope of
Some of the houses were beyond hope of repair.
6. have high/great hopes for somebody/something to be confident that someone or something will be succesful:
The weather looked good, so we had high hopes for today.
7. I/we live in hope spoken used when saying that you keep hoping that something will happen - often used humorously when saying that it seems unlikely:
"Do you think your son will ever get a job?" "We live in hope!"
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ have hope The situation looked bad, but we still had hope that things would get better soon.
▪ give/offer hope The research has given hope to thousands of sufferers of the disease.
▪ lose/give up/abandon hope (=stop hoping) After so long without any word from David, Margaret was starting to lose hope.
▪ raise sb’s hopes (also get/build somebody's hopes up) (=make someone feel that what they want is likely to happen) I don't want to raise your hopes too much. | Don’t build your hopes up, Julie. You’ll only get hurt.
▪ hold out hope (=say that you think something is likely) Negotiators did not hold out much hope of a peaceful solution.
▪ pin your hopes on something (=hope for one thing that everything else depends on) After a difficult year, the company is pinning its hopes on its new range of products.
▪ cling to the hope that (=keep hoping that something will happen, even though it seems unlikely) They clung to the hope that one day a cure would be found.
▪ dash/shatter sb’s hopes (=make what someone wants seem impossible) The ending of the talks has dashed any hopes of peace.
▪ hopes are fading (=people have much less hope of doing something) Hopes are fading that rescuers will find any more survivors.
▪ hope lies in/with something (=something gives people hope) Our real hope lies with a vaccine.
■ phrases
▪ be full of hope His voice sounded full of hope.
▪ a glimmer/ray of hope (=a little hope, or something that gives you a little hope) The new treatment gives patients a glimmer of hope.
▪ sb’s hopes and dreams (=all the things someone hopes for) We talked about all our hopes and dreams for the future.
▪ sb’s hopes and fears (=all the things someone hopes for and is afraid of) The crew members have different hopes and fears about the trip.
▪ it is our fervent hope that formal (=used when saying that you hope very much that something will or will not happen) It is our fervent hope that change is coming.
▪ hope springs eternal (=used to say that people will always hope for something) It is unlikely these diets will work, but hope springs eternal.
▪ a symbol/beacon of hope (=something that makes people have hope) Mandela was a symbol of hope for his whole country.
■ adjectives
▪ false hope We don't want to give people false hopes.
▪ a vain/forlorn hope (=hope for something that is impossible) He traveled south in the vain hope of finding work.
▪ somebody's only/one hope My only hope is that someone may have handed in the keys to the police.