Idioms for hope give shape to what we feel but often struggle to say—faith, endurance, and the quiet strength to keep going. When life gets uncertain, these phrases light the way, helping us express resilience without needing a speech.
This collection offers 50 vivid idioms for hope of lifting your language and your spirit. Let them guide your writing, your comfort, or your next deep breath.
Best Idioms for Hope
1. Fingers crossed
Meaning: Shows a wishful attitude—hoping an outcome turns out well.
In a Sentence:
We’ve sent in the grant proposal, so fingers crossed it gets approved.
She waited for the test results, fingers crossed for good news.
Other Ways to Say: Here’s hoping, Knock on wood, Wishing hard
2. Keep hope alive
Meaning: Encourages maintaining optimism even when circumstances are difficult.
In a Sentence:
Despite the setbacks, the team chose to keep hope alive and keep working.
Her letters from home helped him keep hope alive during deployment.
Other Ways to Say: Stay hopeful, Hold onto optimism, Don’t give up faith
3. Cross my heart
Meaning: A sincere promise is usually paired with trust that the promise will be fulfilled.
In a Sentence:
I’ll be at your recital, cross my heart.
He whispered, “Cross my heart, I’ll never break your trust.”
Other Ways to Say: I swear, Promise sincerely, You have my word
4. Pin your hopes on something
Meaning: Place faith or expectations on a particular event, plan, or person.
In a Sentence:
They pinned their hopes on the new vaccine to end the outbreak.
Don’t pin all your hopes on one interview; keep applying elsewhere.
Other Ways to Say: Rely on, Count on, Stake your hopes
5. Live in hope
Meaning: Continue to be optimistic about a positive result in the future.
In a Sentence:
The farmers lived in the hope that rain would come before the crops failed.
We live in hope that travel will be easier next year.
Other Ways to Say: Remain hopeful, Keep believing, Stay optimistic
6. Hope for the best
Meaning: Anticipate a positive outcome while knowing it may not happen.
In a Sentence:
We’ve done all we can—now we hope for the best.
She packed an umbrella but hoped for the best when leaving for the picnic.
Other Ways to Say: Expect good news, Look on the bright side, Trust it will work out
7. Hold onto hope
Meaning: Refuse to let doubt erase optimism even in hard times.
In a Sentence:
Even in the dark tunnel, she held onto hope for recovery.
Hold onto hope; a new opportunity might appear tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Cling to belief, Keep faith alive, Don’t lose heart
8. Have high hopes
Meaning: Feel confident that something will turn out successfully.
In a Sentence:
The coach has high hopes for the rookie this season.
Parents often have high hopes for their children’s futures.
Other Ways to Say: Expect great things, Aim high, Believe strongly
9. Hope springs eternal
Meaning: Human beings naturally remain hopeful, no matter the odds.
In a Sentence:
She bought another lottery ticket—hope springs eternal.
They kept submitting manuscripts to publishers because hope springs eternal in writers.
Other Ways to Say: Endless optimism, Hope never dies, Eternal Faith
10. Don’t lose hope
Meaning: A reassuring reminder to stay positive when facing challenges.
In a Sentence:
Don’t lose hope—the rescue team is on its way.
Even after rejection, he told himself, “Don’t lose hope; try again.”
Other Ways to Say: Keep your chin up, Hold fast, Stay encouraged
11. A ray of hope
Meaning: A small but encouraging sign that difficult circumstances may improve.
In a Sentence:
The new treatment offered patients a ray of hope after years of setbacks.
Seeing volunteers arrive with supplies was a ray of hope for the flooded village.
Other Ways to Say: Beam of optimism, Sliver of hope, Bright hint of relief
12. A glimmer of hope
Meaning: A faint, barely visible promise that things can still turn out well.
In a Sentence:
Sales were slow, but an unexpected order gave them a glimmer of hope.
Even in his bleakest moments, he held on to a glimmer of hope.
Other Ways to Say: Flicker of promise, Hint of optimism, Spark of possibility
13. Light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: Clear evidence that a long period of difficulty is nearing its end.
In a Sentence:
After months of therapy, she finally saw light at the end of the tunnel.
Economic indicators suggest light at the end of the tunnel for small businesses.
Other Ways to Say: Approaching relief, End in sight, Nearing brighter days
14. A spark in the dark
Meaning: A sudden burst of optimism appearing in an otherwise hopeless situation.
In a Sentence:
Her encouraging words were a spark in the dark during his depression.
The scholarship announcement was a spark in the dark for struggling students.
Other Ways to Say: Flash of hope, Bright spark, Momentary flare
15. A candle in the wind
Meaning: Fragile hope or resilience that persists despite hostile conditions.
In a Sentence:
Their small clinic was a candle in the wind, serving refugees on little funding.
He kept writing poetry, a candle in the wind against societal indifference.
Other Ways to Say: Fragile flame, Delicate beacon, Faint but steady light
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Excitement to Energize Your Speech
16. A window of possibility
Meaning: A limited time or chance through which positive change can occur.
In a Sentence:
Early intervention created a window of possibility for the endangered species.
They seized the window of possibility to expand before competitors reacted.
Other Ways to Say: Opening of chance, Opportunity window, Brief gateway
17. Sunshine after rain
Meaning: Relief and positivity that follow hardship or sorrow.
In a Sentence:
Graduation day felt like sunshine after rain for the persevering class.
Their reconciliation was sunshine after rain, brightening the whole family.
Other Ways to Say: Bright skies after the storm, Clear daybreak, Calm after the turmoil
18. A silver lining
Meaning: A positive aspect found within or following a negative situation.
In a Sentence:
Losing the job was tough, but the silver lining was more time with family.
They searched every setback for a silver lining to keep morale high.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden benefit, Bright side, Positive Twist
19. A door left open
Meaning: An option or opportunity that remains available for future action.
In a Sentence:
Though negotiations stalled, both sides agreed to keep a door left open.
She declined the offer now but left the door open for next year.
Other Ways to Say: Open pathway, Remaining option, Unclosed opportunity
20. Morning after the storm
Meaning: A fresh start and renewed optimism following intense hardship.
In a Sentence:
The ceasefire felt like the morning after the storm for exhausted civilians.
Survivors walked through the debris, sensing the morning after the storm had arrived.
Other Ways to Say: New dawn, Post-storm calm, Fresh beginning
21. Hope against hope
Meaning: Maintaining optimism even when circumstances make success seem impossible.
In a Sentence:
Doctors told him the odds were slim, yet he hoped against hope for recovery.
They applied for the grant, hoping against the hope that funds would still be available.
Other Ways to Say: Against all probability, Defiant hope, Hoping past reason
22. Not giving up hope
Meaning: Persisting in optimism despite prolonged difficulties or setbacks.
In a Sentence:
She searched every shelter, not giving up hope of finding her lost dog.
The stranded hikers were cold and tired but not giving up hope of rescue.
Other Ways to Say: Refusing defeat, Staying hopeful, Holding fast
23. Cling to hope
Meaning: Grasping tightly to even the smallest possibility of a positive outcome.
In a Sentence:
Amid the rubble, they clung to hope that survivors would be found.
He clung to hope during chemotherapy, believing each day could bring good news.
Other Ways to Say: Hang on to optimism, Grip belief, Hold tight to faith
24. A whisper of hope
Meaning: A faint suggestion that things might still work out for the better.
In a Sentence:
The distant sound of sirens was a whisper of hope for those trapped.
The first sprout through the scorched earth offered a whisper of hope for the farmers.
Other Ways to Say: Murmur of promise, Soft hint of hope, Faint encouragement
25. Hanging by a thread
Meaning: Existing in a fragile state where success or survival is barely possible.
In a Sentence:
Their startup was hanging by a thread until a surprise investor stepped in.
The injured climber’s life hung by a thread while rescue teams worked.
Other Ways to Say: On the brink, Barely holding on, Near the edge
26. When all else fails
Meaning: Turning to a final source of optimism or action after every other option is exhausted.
In a Sentence:
When all else fails, they said, keep believing things can change.
She tried every remedy; when all else failed, rest and patience healed her.
Other Ways to Say: As a last resort, In the end, the Final fallback
27. Faith that moves mountains
Meaning: Unshakable belief capable of overcoming huge obstacles.
In a Sentence:
His faith in moving mountains inspired the village to rebuild after the quake.
With faith that moves mountains, she fought for justice despite long odds.
Other Ways to Say: Indomitable belief, Unbreakable conviction, Mountain-moving trust
28. One last shot
Meaning: A final attempt to achieve something before giving up.
In a Sentence:
The coach put in the veteran for one last shot at winning the game.
They gave their relationship one last shot before deciding to part ways.
Other Ways to Say: Final try, Last chance, Ultimate attempt
29. Against all odds
Meaning: Succeeding or persisting despite extremely unfavorable conditions.
In a Sentence:
Against all odds, the tiny sapling grew in the desert sand.
She graduated at the top of her class against all odds.
Other Ways to Say: In spite of everything, Against every obstacle, Defying the odds
30. Believe in miracles
Meaning: Holding faith that extraordinary and positive events can still happen.
In a Sentence:
The doctors did their best, but the family chose to believe in miracles.
He mailed the lost wallet back, proving it’s worth believing in miracles.
Other Ways to Say: Trust in wonders, Expect the extraordinary, Have miracle faith
31. Dash someone’s hopes
Meaning: To abruptly destroy someone’s expectation for a positive result.
In a Sentence:
The sudden budget cut dashed the team’s hopes of launching the project this year.
When the visa was denied, it dashed her hopes of studying abroad.
Other Ways to Say: Crush dreams, Quench optimism, Break someone’s spirit
32. Shattered hopes
Meaning: Dreams or expectations that are broken into pieces, leaving deep disappointment.
In a Sentence:
The cancellation of the concert left fans with shattered hopes.
His injury in the finals meant shattered hopes of an Olympic medal.
Other Ways to Say: Broken aspirations, Hopes in ruins, Dreams in fragments
33. False hope
Meaning: Optimism based on misleading or unrealistic expectations.
In a Sentence:
The unverified rumor of a cure offered patients false hope.
She didn’t want to give the child false hope about a quick reunion.
Other Ways to Say: Empty promise, Illusory optimism, Misplaced faith
34. Hopes up, hopes down
Meaning: Rapid shifts between optimism and disappointment.
In a Sentence:
The roller-coaster negotiations kept everyone’s hopes up and hopes down all week.
The job hunt had him on a merry-go-round of hopes up and hopes down.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional whiplash, See-saw expectations, Up-and-down hope
35. No hope in sight
Meaning: A situation where it appears impossible to expect improvement.
In a Sentence:
With rescue delayed by days, there seemed no hope in sight.
For many during the drought, empty wells meant no hope in sight.
Other Ways to Say: Hopeless horizon, Futureless view, Lightless outlook
Related Post: 50 Best Idioms for Anger and Frustration
36. A fragile dream
Meaning: An aspiration that could easily break under pressure or misfortune.
In a Sentence:
Opening a bookstore in the small town was a fragile dream she guarded carefully.
Their plan to travel the world felt like a fragile dream after the market crash.
Other Ways to Say: Delicate ambition, Breakable vision, Brittle hope
37. Beyond hope
Meaning: Past the point where optimism seems reasonable; nothing more can be done.
In a Sentence:
The relic was rusted beyond hope of restoration.
Doctors declared the old oak beyond hope after the lightning strike.
Other Ways to Say: Past saving, Hopeless case, Irretrievable
38. Hope turned sour
Meaning: Optimism that has transformed into disappointment or bitterness.
In a Sentence:
Their excitement about the merger turned sour when layoffs followed.
For many investors, early enthusiasm for the startup turned sour after scandals emerged.
Other Ways to Say: Hope gone bitter, Sour optimism, Promise spoilt
39. A heart full of ifs
Meaning: Overwhelming doubts and conditional fears that undermine confidence.
In a Sentence:
She tried to plan the move, but a heart full of ifs kept her awake at night.
His proposal was delayed by a heart full of ifs about their future stability.
Other Ways to Say: Doubt-laden heart, Mind of uncertainties, Soul of what-ifs
40. Crushed expectations
Meaning: Anticipations completely flattened by adverse outcomes.
In a Sentence:
The test scores arrived, and with them came crushed expectations for the scholarship.
When the storm destroyed the harvest, farmers faced crushed expectations and empty barns.
Other Ways to Say: Flattened hopes, Expectations destroyed, Dreams stamped out
41. Hope floats
Meaning: Optimism naturally rises to the surface even when circumstances sink.
In a Sentence:
After losing everything in the fire, their spirit proved that hope floats.
The community learned that, despite tragedy, hope floats back to the top.
Other Ways to Say: Buoyant optimism, Rising hope, Hope that won’t sink
42. Hope is a feather
Meaning: A delicate yet persistent optimism that can lift hearts despite its lightness.
In a Sentence:
In her darkest hour, hope was a feather that kept her aloft.
He carried hope like a feather—soft, weightless, but powerful in flight.
Other Ways to Say: Feathered belief, Gentle uplift, Soft-winged optimism
43. A hopeful heart sees farther
Meaning: Optimism expands one’s vision, revealing possibilities others overlook.
In a Sentence:
Entrepreneurs often succeed because a hopeful heart sees farther than fear.
With a hopeful heart, she saw farther than the storm clouds ahead.
Other Ways to Say: Far-seeing faith, Visionary optimism, Hope-sharpened sight
44. Hope rides on the wind
Meaning: Optimism travels quickly and spreads widely, carried by unseen forces.
In a Sentence:
News of the breakthrough spread—hope rides on the wind.
Across borders, songs of freedom proved that hope rides on the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Wind-borne hope, Airborne promise, Breeze of optimism
45. Hope never sleeps
Meaning: Optimism remains vigilant, continuing even when everything else rests.
In a Sentence:
Through sleepless nights in the ICU, they learned that hope never sleeps.
Activists worked in shifts, fueled by the belief that hope never sleeps.
Other Ways to Say: Ever-wakeful hope, Unresting optimism, Tireless faith
46. The seed of hope
Meaning: A small beginning of optimism that can grow into something great.
In a Sentence:
Her first smile planted the seed of hope in his lonely heart.
Each donated book became the seed of hope for children’s literacy.
Other Ways to Say: Hope’s seedling, Sprout of optimism, Germ of belief
47. Build castles in the sky
Meaning: Imagine grand, hopeful dreams that seem impossible for now.
In a Sentence:
They spent evenings building castles in the sky about their future travels.
Inventors must build castles in the sky before creating real-life wonders.
Other Ways to Say: Dream grandly, Spin sky-high visions, Craft lofty hopes
48. Hope is the thing with feathers
Meaning: Borrowed from Emily Dickinson, portraying hope as a bird that sings eternally within the soul.
In a Sentence:
Even in prison, he kept repeating: “Hope is the thing with feathers.”
The hospice volunteer whispered Dickinson’s line—hope is the thing with feathers—to comfort patients.
Other Ways to Say: Feathered hope, Bird-song optimism, Winged faith
49. Hope burns bright
Meaning: Optimism shines powerfully, like a flame that resists being extinguished.
In a Sentence:
Despite setbacks, hope burns bright in the startup team’s late-night meetings.
For refugees on the road, hope burns bright, lighting every uncertain step.
Other Ways to Say: Blazing hope, Bright-burning faith, Fiery optimism
50. Hope is a quiet rebellion
Meaning: Choosing optimism acts as a gentle yet defiant stand against despair.
In a Sentence:
Writing poetry in war-torn streets, she showed that hope is a quiet rebellion.
Their community garden thrived among ruins—hope as a quiet rebellion against neglect.
Other Ways to Say: Subtle defiance, Silent stand of hope, Soft-spoken resistance
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Hope
- “Even in the worst times, she still had __________.”
- “They’re __________ that the results will improve.”
- “He didn’t give up—he just kept __________.”
- “There’s still __________ for a last-minute comeback.”
- “We know it’s risky, but we’re __________.”
- “That letter was like __________ in the middle of her loneliness.”
- “No matter what happens, always __________.”
- “After months of struggle, they finally saw __________.”
- “They knew it might not work, but they __________ anyway.”
- “His dreams were __________, but he believed in them.”
Answers
- hope in her heart
- pinning their hopes on it
- holding onto hope
- a glimmer of hope
- hoping for the best
- a ray of hope
- don’t lose hope
- light at the end of the tunnel
- hoped against hope
- a fragile dream
Conclusion
These idioms for hope prove that language can steady trembling hearts and brighten the dimmest moments. Keep the list within reach; let a single phrase slip into your next story, pep-talk, or midnight note to yourself.
Share one with someone who needs a lift, and watch the possibility bloom. Hope spoken is hope multiplied—so pass the light on.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
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