Idioms

see the glass as half empty

see the glass as half empty

To view a situation as generally worse or less hopeful than might otherwise be perceived; to be pessimistic. When it comes to the state of the world, most people see the glass as half empty. But they forget all the progress that has been made.
See also: empty, glass, half, see
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

(see the) ˌglass half ˈfull/half ˈempty

used to describe whether somebody has a positive or negative attitude towards something: People are prepared to see the glass half full at the moment rather than half empty.He’s a glass-half-full type of guy (= he always expects good things to happen).
See also: empty, full, glass, half
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
See also:
References in periodicals archive
Some see the glass as half empty, but at the Vatican, the empty glass is apparently just an opportunity for a refill.
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.