illusory hope

USAGE SUMMARY

"illusory hope" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to hopes that are based on false beliefs or overly optimistic expectations. For example, "She had an illusory hope that she could make a fortune by investing in a penny stock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This is an illusory hope.

The New Yorker

I have my own theory about this – or perhaps it is just an illusory hope.

The Guardian

His side were soon stripped of any illusory hope with that Hearts penalty.

The Guardian - Sport

Even if some view it as illusory hope, it does soothe our distress in situations that would otherwise be hard for us to accept.

The New York Times

By rolling back the Clean Power Plan, the administration is holding out illusory hope to coal-dependent communities that coal jobs will come back.

Stanford University

And alternative assets provide the illusory hope that underfunded pension plans can be made whole again by simply changing asset allocations.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

For Wagner, Paris was the city of illusory hopes.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather than pursuing illusory hopes, we should do what is necessary for real success.

The New York Times

These were illusory hopes, he thought, because "the incomplete joys of this world will never satisfy [the human] heart". Reading Tocqueville today, it is as if he knew us in advance.

The New York Times - Arts

✒Bad news for toilers at News International who had illusory hopes in the summer that Will Lewis – the former Daily Telegraph editor and Rebekah Brooks consigliere, latterly sleuthing for News Corporation's management and standards committee – might soon no longer be on the Murdoch payroll.

The Guardian

But when it comes to his second-term legacy, I'm not sure anyone in the White House is privileging the possibly-illusory hope of a major immigration reform compromise and the almost-certainly-illusory dream of a major cap-and-trade bill over what they're trying to win on taxes in the here and now.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "illusory hope" to convey that a belief or expectation is not only unlikely to be realized but also potentially misleading or deceptive. It's stronger than simply saying 'unlikely'.

Common error

Avoid using "illusory hope" when you simply mean someone is optimistic. The phrase implies a significant disconnect from reality, not just a positive outlook.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illusory hope" functions as a noun phrase, where 'illusory' modifies 'hope'. It describes a type of hope that is based on illusion or misconception. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "illusory hope" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a hope that is based on false beliefs or overly optimistic expectations. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, with examples found in news, academic, and encyclopedic contexts. It's important to use this phrase when the hope is not just unlikely but also potentially misleading. Alternatives like "false hope" or "vain hope" can be used depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

false hope

Emphasizes the deceptive nature of the hope.

deceptive hope

Highlights the misleading quality of the hope.

vain hope

Stresses the futility and ultimate lack of result.

futile hope

Focuses on the pointlessness of the hope.

empty promise

Shifts the focus from hope to the false expectation.

groundless expectation

Highlights the lack of foundation for the hope.

pipe dream

Suggests an unrealistic and unattainable hope.

delusional expectation

Emphasizes the unrealistic and potentially irrational basis of the hope.

wishful thinking

Implies that the hope is based more on desire than reality.

baseless optimism

Focuses on the lack of factual support for the optimistic outlook.

FAQs

How to use "illusory hope" in a sentence?

"Illusory hope" is used to describe a situation where someone believes that something positive will happen, but that belief is unlikely to be realized, and potentially misleading. For instance: "By rolling back the Clean Power Plan, the administration is holding out "illusory hope" to coal-dependent communities that coal jobs will come back."

What can I say instead of "illusory hope"?

You can use alternatives like "false hope", "deceptive hope", or "vain hope" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "illusory hope" or "false hope"?

Both "illusory hope" and "false hope" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Illusory hope" suggests a hope based on a misinterpretation of reality, while "false hope" implies that the hope is deliberately misleading or unfounded.

What's the difference between "illusory hope" and "optimism"?

"Optimism" is a general tendency to expect positive outcomes. "Illusory hope" describes a specific situation where a positive expectation is based on unrealistic or deceptive grounds. Optimism can be realistic, while ""illusory hope"" is, by definition, detached from reality.