dash (one's) hopes

To undercut one's dreams or optimistic views. I became a lawyer after my parents dashed my hopes of being an artist. A: "Well, I was gonna talk to that pretty girl by the bar until these jerks dashed my hopes." B: "Sorry, we can't help it that you're a huge dork!" There's a storm rolling in? Dang, that dashes my hopes of spending the day on the beach.

hardly earth-shattering

Not surprising. Greg has been staying late at the office regularly for months, so it's hardly earth-shattering news that he was chosen for the big promotion. It's hardly earth-shattering that the only applicants are totally inexperienced. I mean, the pay is too low to entice anyone else! Why are you guys surprised? The board has been threatening to slash our funding for months, so it's hardly earth-shattering that they've finally done so.

shatter (one's) hopes

To undercut one's dreams or optimistic views. I became a lawyer after my parents shattered my hopes of being an artist.

world shattering

Totally and completely surprising, with the sense that whatever is described as such is shocking enough to change one's view of the world. However, the phrase is often used hyperbolically. Finding out that my dad isn't my biological father has been completely world shattering. I don't know who to trust anymore. A: "Oh my God, did you hear the world shattering news?" B: "Yeah, I can't believe that Sue is leaving the company. It won't be the same without her!"

dash/shatter somebody’s ˈhopes

destroy somebody’s hopes of doing or getting something: Any hopes that the museum would be built this year were dashed yesterday when the council announced its plans to spend less money on the arts. ♢ His poor performance in the exam shattered his hopes of becoming a lawyer.