set hopes on
set (one's) hopes on (someone or something)
1. To have expectations that are tied to the success, performance, etc., of a particular person or thing. Why are we setting our hopes on him when we know he's not popular enough to defeat the incumbent? I had built my hopes on this promotion and was crushed when I didn't get it.
2. To be resolutely determined in or extremely hopeful of obtaining, experiencing, or accomplishing something. I know my daughter has set her hopes on getting one of those popular dolls for Christmas, but I couldn't find one anywhere. When we started this campaign, we set our hopes on raising a few thousands dollars just to cover Daniel's medical expenses. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd raise close to a quarter of a million dollars!
See also: hope, on, set
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
set one's hopes on someone or something
Fig. to have one's hopes or expectations dependent on someone or something. Please don't set your hopes on me in the race. I can't run as fast as I used to. I have set my hopes on the effectiveness of the new law.
See also: hope, on, set
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- a one-trick pony
- a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
- a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
- a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
- bushel
- one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
- one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
- one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
- rotten apple spoils the barrel
- a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel