(~s, hoping, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ that something is true, or if you ~ for something, you want it to be true or to happen, and you usually believe that it is possible or likely.
She had decided she must go on as usual, follow her normal routine, and ~ and pray...
He hesitates before leaving, almost as though he had been hoping for conversation...
I ~ to get a job within the next two weeks...
The researchers ~ that such a vaccine could be available in about ten years’ time...
‘We’ll speak again.’—‘I ~ so.’...
VERB: V, V for n, V to-inf, V that, V so/not
2.
If you say that you cannot ~ for something, or if you talk about the only thing that you can ~ to get, you mean that you are in a bad situation, and there is very little chance of improving it.
Things aren’t ideal, but that’s the best you can ~ for...
...these mountains, which no one can ~ to penetrate.
VERB: with brd-neg, V for n, V to-inf
•
Hope is also a noun.
The only ~ for underdeveloped countries is to become, as far as possible, self-reliant...
N-VAR
3.
Hope is a feeling of desire and expectation that things will go well in the future.
But Kevin hasn’t given up ~ of being fit...
Consumer groups still hold out ~ that the president will change his mind...
N-UNCOUNT
4.
If someone wants something to happen, and considers it likely or possible, you can refer to their ~s of that thing, or to their ~ that it will happen.
They have ~s of increasing trade between the two regions...
The delay in the programme has dashed Japan’s ~s of commercial success in space...
N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n/-ing, N that
5.
If you think that the help or success of a particular person or thing will cause you to be successful or to get what you want, you can refer to them as your ~.
Roemer represented the best ~ for a businesslike climate in Louisiana.
N-COUNT: with supp
6.
If you are in a difficult situation and do something and ~ for the best, you ~ that everything will happen in the way you want, although you know that it may not.
Some companies are cutting costs and hoping for the best.
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you tell someone not to get their ~s up, or not to build their ~s up, you are warning them that they should not become too confident of progress or success.
There is no reason for people to get their ~s up over this mission...
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
If you say that someone has not got a ~ in hell of doing something, you are emphasizing that they will not be able to do it. (INFORMAL)
Everybody knows they haven’t got a ~ in hell of forming a government anyway.
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, oft PHR of -ing emphasis
9.
If you have high ~s or great ~s that something will happen, you are confident that it will happen.
I had high ~s that Derek Randall might play an important part...
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, usu PHR that, PHR of n/-ing, PHR for n
10.
If you ~ against ~ that something will happen, you ~ that it will happen, although it seems impossible.
She glanced about the hall, hoping against ~ that Richard would be waiting for her.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR that
11.
You use ‘I ~’ in expressions such as ‘I ~ you don’t mind’ and ‘I ~ I’m not disturbing you’, when you are being polite and want to make sure that you have not offended someone or disturbed them.
I ~ you don’t mind me coming to see you...
I ~ I haven’t said anything to upset you.
PHRASE: PHR with cl politeness
12.
You say ‘I ~’ when you want to warn someone not to do something foolish or dangerous.
I ~ you won’t be too harsh with the girl...
PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR not
13.
If you do one thing in the ~ of another thing happening, you do it because you think it might cause or help the other thing to happen, which is what you want.
He was studying in the ~ of being admitted to an engineering college...
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR of -ing, PHR that
14.
If you live in ~ that something will happen, you continue to ~ that it will happen, although it seems unlikely, and you realize that you are being foolish.
My mother bought lots of tickets and lived in ~ of winning the prize.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR that, PHR of -ing
15.
If you say ‘Some ~’, or ‘Not a ~’, you think there is no possibility that something will happen, although you may want it to happen. (INFORMAL)
The industry reckons it will see orders swell by 10% this financial year. Some ~.
CONVENTION feelings