dash someone's hopes

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.
See also: dash, hope
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

dash someone's hopes

Destroy someone's plans, disappoint or disillusion. For example, That fall dashed her hopes of a gold medal. This term uses dash in the sense of "destroy," a usage surviving only in this idiom. [Second half of 1500s]
See also: dash, hope
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • dash hopes
  • dash (one's) hopes
  • dash/shatter somebody's hopes
  • shatter
  • shatter (one's) hopes
  • dash off
  • dash off (somewhere)
  • dash (something) against (something)
  • dash against
  • dash to pieces
References in periodicals archive
Not dealing can worsen the situation, because the longer you wait to dash someone's hopes, the more intense the feelings of rejection.