lose hope
يفقد الأمل
Use it to describe giving up on a positive result or to encourage someone to keep believing.
In 15 Sekunden
- To stop believing that a positive outcome is possible.
- Used for both serious life events and minor frustrations.
- Commonly used to encourage others to keep trying.
Bedeutung
When you feel like things will never get better or you stop believing in a positive outcome. It is that heavy feeling when you give up on a dream or a solution.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Encouraging a friend looking for a job
Don't lose hope, the right company will call you soon!
Don't lose hope, the right company will call you soon!
Discussing a difficult medical situation
The doctors told us not to lose hope despite the test results.
The doctors told us not to lose hope despite the test results.
Waiting for a late food delivery
I was starting to lose hope that my pizza would ever arrive.
I was starting to lose hope that my pizza would ever arrive.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is deeply rooted in Western literature and philosophy, often contrasted with the virtue of 'fortitude'. In modern pop culture, it is a staple of 'hero's journey' narratives where the protagonist must overcome despair to succeed.
The Power of 'Yet'
Adding 'yet' (e.g., 'Don't lose hope yet') makes you sound much more encouraging and realistic.
Watch the Drama
In English, using this for very small things (like a slow internet connection) is seen as 'sarcastic' or 'extra'.
In 15 Sekunden
- To stop believing that a positive outcome is possible.
- Used for both serious life events and minor frustrations.
- Commonly used to encourage others to keep trying.
What It Means
Lose hope is that moment when your inner light dims. It means you stop expecting a good result. You feel like the battle is over. It is not just being sad. It is about your expectations hitting zero. Think of it like a battery running out of power. You simply stop believing it can be recharged.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a verb. You can say I lost hope or Don't lose hope. It works for big things like world peace. It also works for small things like finding your keys. You can add of or that after it. For example, I lost hope of finishing on time. It is very flexible in your sentences. Just remember it is an emotional state.
When To Use It
Use it when someone is struggling. It is a powerful way to show empathy. You might say it to a friend after a breakup. Use it in a meeting when a project looks doomed. It is perfect for dramatic storytelling too. If you are waiting for a bus that never comes, you might lose hope and call a taxi. It fits both serious and slightly annoying moments.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for very trivial things if you want to be taken seriously. If you run out of milk, saying I have lost all hope sounds very dramatic. People might think you are joking. Avoid using it in a professional setting if you want to sound optimistic. Managers usually want to hear about solutions, not about losing hope. Also, do not use it if you are just a little bit frustrated.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, hope is a massive concept. It is often tied to the idea of the 'American Dream' or perseverance. There is a strong cultural push to 'never give up'. Because of this, saying someone lost hope sounds quite tragic. It is a common theme in movies and pop songs. It represents a turning point in a character's journey. We love a story where someone loses hope and then finds it again.
Common Variations
You will often hear give up hope. This sounds more active, like you chose to stop. You might also hear lose all hope for extra drama. A glimmer of hope is the opposite. That means there is still a tiny bit left. If you are feeling poetic, you can say hope faded. But lose hope remains the most common and natural way to say it.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and works in almost any context. Be careful with 'lost all hope' as it can sound very dramatic or even suicidal in extreme contexts.
The Power of 'Yet'
Adding 'yet' (e.g., 'Don't lose hope yet') makes you sound much more encouraging and realistic.
Watch the Drama
In English, using this for very small things (like a slow internet connection) is seen as 'sarcastic' or 'extra'.
The 'Hope' Idiom
English speakers often say 'Hope springs eternal,' which is the exact opposite of losing hope!
Beispiele
6Don't lose hope, the right company will call you soon!
Don't lose hope, the right company will call you soon!
Used here as an imperative to provide emotional support.
The doctors told us not to lose hope despite the test results.
The doctors told us not to lose hope despite the test results.
A serious, professional context where hope is a medical outlook.
I was starting to lose hope that my pizza would ever arrive.
I was starting to lose hope that my pizza would ever arrive.
A slightly hyperbolic use for a common daily frustration.
The team lost hope after the third round of budget cuts.
The team lost hope after the third round of budget cuts.
Describes a collective loss of morale in a workplace.
I've lost hope of finding my AirPods at the gym.
I've lost hope of finding my AirPods at the gym.
Casual way to say you've stopped looking for something.
He wandered the desert until he finally lost all hope of rescue.
He wandered the desert until he finally lost all hope of rescue.
Classic narrative use to show a character's low point.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence.
Even when things get tough, you should never ___ hope.
After 'should never', we use the base form of the verb.
Complete the sentence with the appropriate preposition.
She lost hope ___ ever seeing her childhood home again.
We often use 'lose hope of [verb-ing]' to describe a specific outcome.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Spectrum
Used with friends about small things.
I lost hope in this game.
Standard daily use.
Don't lose hope yet.
Used in literature or speeches.
One must never lose hope in humanity.
When to say 'Lose Hope'
Sports
When your team is losing 5-0.
Career
After many job rejections.
Romance
Waiting for a text back.
Health
During a long recovery.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenThey are similar, but lose hope is about your feelings, while give up is about your actions. You can lose hope but keep trying anyway.
It is better to use more positive language like I am concerned about the timeline instead of I am losing hope in a professional email.
The past tense is lost hope. For example: He lost hope after the rain started.
Yes, adding all makes it much stronger and more emotional. It implies there is absolutely no chance left.
Usually, we don't use a possessive. We just say lose hope rather than lose my hope.
Extremely common. It is often used in the 'dark night of the soul' moment in movies where the hero feels defeated.
A common synonym is despair, but despair is much more formal and heavy.
You can say Don't lose hope! or Keep the faith! to encourage them.
Yes, fans often say they are losing hope when their team is playing poorly.
It can be seen as a bit judgmental. It is better to ask Have you lost hope? or say I feel like you're losing hope.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Give up
To stop trying to do something.
Throw in the towel
To admit defeat or stop struggling.
Keep your chin up
To stay positive in a difficult situation.
Light at the end of the tunnel
A sign that a difficult period is ending.
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