misguided hope

USAGE SUMMARY

"misguided hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled or is based on flawed logic or information. For example, "My brother has a misguided hope that his lottery ticket will win him millions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

It is a misguided hope.

The New York Times - Sports

This often represents a misguided hope.

The New Yorker

The loudness you adopt in response to a bad cellphone connection, in the misguided hope that talking louder will improve the connection.

The New York Times - Magazine

Turkey has long turned a blind eye to the movement of Isis volunteers across its borders, in the misguided hope they would help bring down Assad in Syria.

The Guardian

This is a common fear-based response, one that defers to the lowest elements of society in the misguided hope of currying their favor.

The New York Times

A constant feature is a strong but misguided hope that the market will soon get back to familiar ground with strong price rises and huge profits to be made.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The city's plan to redevelop the far West Side of Midtown, including misguided hopes to build a football stadium there, will also bring extraordinary pressures to bear on the territory around the High Line.

The New York Times

Some Somalis were smuggled to Nepal with misguided hopes of ending up in Europe.

Conflict and Health

But maybe that wasn't as important as the optimism it created, as misguided people with hope in their eyes and wooden walkie-talkies in their hands looked to the sky for the things that would improve their lives.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the Germans' primary motivation for producing these missiles wasn't reprisal but rather the hope (misguided, but similar to the logic behind much of the Allies' strategic bombing) that such weapons would break British morale and thereby force London to make a separate, compromise peace.

The New York Times - Books

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's "haste is terribly misguided, and we hope that you will intervene to prevent this family from being deported before they have had a full and fair opportunity to pursue their appeal," wrote Latham & Watkins associate Lori Alvino McGill to Holder on July 10.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "misguided hope", ensure the context clearly explains why the hope is flawed or unrealistic. Providing specific reasons strengthens the argument and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of holding a "misguided hope". While it's important to highlight the flaw, avoid dramatic pronouncements unless the situation genuinely warrants it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "misguided hope" functions as a noun phrase, where "misguided" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "hope". As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly describes a belief or expectation that is unlikely to be fulfilled due to flawed reasoning or unrealistic assumptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

29%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "misguided hope" is a phrase used to describe an expectation or belief that is unlikely to be realized due to flawed reasoning or unrealistic assumptions. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, notably in news, media, and scientific sources. Its usage aims to express skepticism or to criticize specific expectations. While many alternative phrases exist, like "fallacious hope" or "illusory hope", each carries slightly different connotations. When employing the phrase, it's essential to clarify the reason behind the unrealistic nature of the hope to avoid ambiguity and strengthen the overall message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fallacious hope

Replaces 'misguided' with 'fallacious', emphasizing the deceptive or misleading nature of the hope.

misguided optimism

Substitutes 'hope' with 'optimism', focusing on the general positive outlook rather than a specific expectation.

unfounded hope

Replaces 'misguided' with 'unfounded', highlighting the lack of a solid basis for the hope.

illusory hope

Uses 'illusory' instead of 'misguided' to convey that the hope is based on an illusion.

deluded expectation

Replaces 'hope' with 'expectation' and 'misguided' with 'deluded', suggesting a stronger level of false belief.

unrealistic expectation

Focuses on the impracticality of the hope by labeling the expectation as unrealistic.

vain hope

Replaces 'misguided' with 'vain', emphasizing the futility or pointlessness of the hope.

false dawn

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a hope that appears promising but ultimately leads to disappointment.

pipe dream

Replaces "misguided hope" with the idiom "pipe dream" indicating an unrealistic aspiration.

fool's errand

This idiomatic expression captures the futility of pursuing a "misguided hope".

FAQs

How can I use "misguided hope" in a sentence?

You can use "misguided hope" to describe a situation where someone believes in something that is unlikely to happen or is based on incorrect information. For example, "His belief that he could win the election with no experience was a "misguided hope"".

What are some alternatives to "misguided hope"?

Some alternatives to "misguided hope" include "fallacious hope", "unfounded hope", or "illusory hope". These phrases all convey the idea of a hope that is based on false or unrealistic premises.

Which is more appropriate: "misguided hope" or "false hope"?

"Misguided hope" implies that the hope is based on a misunderstanding or flawed reasoning. "False hope" suggests that the hope is intentionally deceptive or misleading. The choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "misguided hope" and "wishful thinking"?

"Misguided hope" refers to a specific expectation that is unlikely to be realized due to flawed logic or information. "Wishful thinking" is a more general tendency to believe what one wants to be true, regardless of the evidence. While both can be unrealistic, "misguided hope" is usually more concrete and specific.