give false hope

Meaning

This expression means to make someone believe that something desirable is likely to happen when, in reality, it is highly unlikely or impossible. It is often used when someone is being overly polite or misleading another person about their feelings or prospects.

Examples

• I don't want to give you false hope, but there is a small chance we can fix this.

  I don't want to give you false hope, but there is a small chance we can fix this.

• By staying in touch every day, she was giving him false hope of getting back together.

  By staying in touch every day, she was giving him false hope of getting back together.

• Please be honest with me; don't just give me false hope.

  Please be honest with me; don't just give me false hope.

• The doctor was careful not to give false hope to the patient's family.

  The doctor was careful not to give false hope to the patient's family.

• He knew the relationship was over, but he kept giving her false hope by postponing the breakup.

  He knew the relationship was over, but he kept giving her false hope by postponing the breakup.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't give a false hope to him.

  ✓ Don't give him false hope.

  'Hope' is an uncountable noun in this context, so you should not use the indefinite article 'a'.

• ✗ She gave false hopes about their future.

  ✓ She gave false hope about their future.

  While the plural 'false hopes' exists, the standard idiomatic action is almost always singular: 'to give false hope'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I don't want to ___ false hope, but we might still win the contract.

  💡 verb meaning to offer or provide

  Show answer

  give

• By texting him late at night, she is giving him false ___.

  💡 the feeling of wanting something to happen

  Show answer

  hope