little hope
أمل ضئيل
Use it to express realistic doubt while acknowledging a tiny remaining chance of success.
15秒了解
- Used when success is possible but very unlikely to happen.
- A polite way to prepare someone for a negative result.
- Common in news, sports, and serious personal conversations.
意思
This phrase describes a situation where there is a very small chance of success. It means you aren't totally giving up, but you don't expect things to go well.
关键例句
3 / 6Talking about a sports game
There is little hope of our team winning the championship now.
There is little hope of our team winning the championship now.
Discussing a broken laptop
The technician said there is little hope of recovering the data.
The technician said there is little hope of recovering the data.
Texting a friend about a party
I have little hope of finishing this essay before the party tonight.
I have little hope of finishing this essay before the party tonight.
文化背景
The phrase reflects a British and American tendency toward 'understatement.' Instead of being overly dramatic about a total failure, speakers use 'little' to soften the blow of a negative outcome. It is a staple of news reporting and medical dramas to maintain a sense of gravity without being completely hopeless.
Little vs. A Little
Be careful! 'A little hope' is positive (some hope exists), but 'little hope' is negative (almost no hope exists).
Don't say 'Few Hope'
Hope is uncountable in this context. Always use 'little,' never 'few.'
15秒了解
- Used when success is possible but very unlikely to happen.
- A polite way to prepare someone for a negative result.
- Common in news, sports, and serious personal conversations.
What It Means
Little hope describes a feeling of doubt. It means the odds are against you. You might still be trying, but you expect to fail. It is that tiny flicker of light in a dark room. It is not quite zero, but it is very close. Use it when success feels like a miracle.
How To Use It
You usually place it after verbs like there is or have. You can say There is little hope for rain. Or try I have little hope for this cake. It works as a noun phrase in your sentence. It sounds natural and flows easily in conversation. It is a great way to manage expectations politely.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to be realistic. Use it at work when a deadline is impossible. Use it when your favorite sports team is losing badly. It is perfect for medical updates or serious news. You can also use it when your phone battery is at 1%. It adds a touch of drama to everyday problems.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid it when you want to be truly inspiring. Do not say it to a friend before their wedding. It is too negative for a pep talk. If there is absolutely no chance, use no hope instead. Little hope implies a tiny, microscopic chance still exists. Don't use it if you are actually 100% certain of failure.
Cultural Background
English speakers often use this to avoid sounding too blunt. It is a way of breaking bad news gently. Instead of saying "It's impossible," we say "There is little hope." It reflects a culture of cautious realism. It has been used in literature for centuries to create suspense. It keeps the audience hanging on by a thread.
Common Variations
You might hear precious little hope for extra emphasis. Small hope is similar but less common in daily speech. A glimmer of hope is the positive version of this. Faint hope is another elegant way to say the same thing. People also say beyond hope when things are truly finished. Stick to little hope for the most versatile option.
使用说明
The phrase is neutral and works in almost any setting. Remember that omitting the 'a' before 'little' is what makes it feel negative and scarce.
Little vs. A Little
Be careful! 'A little hope' is positive (some hope exists), but 'little hope' is negative (almost no hope exists).
Don't say 'Few Hope'
Hope is uncountable in this context. Always use 'little,' never 'few.'
The British Understatement
If a British person says 'there's little hope,' they often mean 'it's definitely not happening' but are being polite.
例句
6There is little hope of our team winning the championship now.
There is little hope of our team winning the championship now.
Expressing a realistic outlook on a losing streak.
The technician said there is little hope of recovering the data.
The technician said there is little hope of recovering the data.
Used to convey professional bad news gently.
I have little hope of finishing this essay before the party tonight.
I have little hope of finishing this essay before the party tonight.
A casual way to say you probably won't make it.
I forgot to water it for a month, so there's little hope for this cactus.
I forgot to water it for a month, so there's little hope for this cactus.
Using a serious phrase for a silly personal failure.
There is little hope for a budget increase this fiscal year.
There is little hope for a budget increase this fiscal year.
Setting realistic expectations in a corporate setting.
There's little hope of the bus arriving on time in this weather.
There's little hope of the bus arriving on time in this weather.
Everyday frustration shared with a stranger.
自我测试
Choose the best word to complete the sentence.
The doctor said there is ___ hope for a full recovery without surgery.
While 'small' is grammatically okay, 'little hope' is the standard English collocation for this meaning.
Complete the thought.
I have ___ hope that the store is still open at midnight.
Since stores usually close early, 'little hope' expresses the low probability correctly.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Little Hope'
Used with friends about small things.
Little hope for my diet today!
Standard daily use.
There is little hope of rain.
Used in reports or medicine.
There is little hope for the project's survival.
When to use 'Little Hope'
Sports
Down by 20 points.
Technology
Phone dropped in water.
Weather
Waiting for sun in London.
Work
Missing a big deadline.
常见问题
10 个问题'No hope' means 0% chance. 'Little hope' means maybe 1% or 5%—it's very unlikely but not impossible.
You can, but it sounds less natural. Little hope is the preferred phrase that native speakers use most often.
No, it is actually quite polite. It is a soft way to manage someone's expectations without being too blunt.
Add the word 'very' or 'precious.' For example: There is precious little hope left.
Usually, no. If you want to be positive, say a glimmer of hope or some hope.
Yes, it is perfect for professional settings. Use it to warn a client that a request might not be possible.
Yes, you can say I have little hope for him. This means you don't think he will succeed or change.
The opposite would be high hopes or great hope.
Yes, it functions as a quantifier for the uncountable noun 'hope.'
Absolutely. You can say There was little hope for the ship during the storm.
相关表达
Against all odds
Succeeding when there was little hope.
A glimmer of hope
A very small amount of hope (more positive).
Slim chance
A very small possibility of something happening.
Long shot
Something that is very unlikely to succeed.
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