hope

Cross my heart (and hope to die).

something that you say in order to emphasize that something is true. I want to go to the party with you, not Sarah - cross my heart!

See also: cross, heart

not have a chance/hope in hell

to have no chance at all of achieving something. She hasn't a hope in hell of passing these exams. (usually + of + doing something)

See also: chance, hell

hope against hope

to hope very strongly that something will happen, although you know it is not very likely. We were just hoping against hope that she would be rescued. (usually in continuous tenses; usually + that)

See also: against

a hope chest (American)

the things a young woman collects to use in her home after she is married. Gloria spent the next few months embroidering sheets for her hope chest.

See also: chest

live in hope

to hope that something you want to happen will happen one day. None of my poems have been published yet, but I live in hope.

See also: live

pin your hopes on something/someone

to hope that something or someone will help you achieve what you want. The party is pinning its hopes on its new leader who is young, good-looking, and very popular with ordinary people.

See also: pin

wish the ground would swallow you up

to wish that you could disappear because you feel very embarrassed. Everyone in the room was staring at me and I stood there wishing the ground would swallow me up.

See also: ground, swallow, wish

---

get someone's hopes up

to make someone think that what they want is going to happen. If we can't afford the trip then we shouldn't get the children's hopes up.

Usage notes: usually said when something is not likely to happen

in hopes of doing something

with the intention of influencing something in the future that you do not control directly. McDougall is cooperating with police in hopes of reducing his sentence.

Usage notes: also used in the form in hopes that something will happen: The agency sued the farmer in hopes that other growers would obey the government's demands.

pin your hopes on someone/something

to depend on someone or something for a successful result. The party is pinning its hopes on its new leader, who is young, good-looking, and very popular. Scientists are pinning their hopes on the high-tech laboratory.

Usage notes: usually said when it is not certain whether something will happen or succeed

See also: pin