forlorn hope

/fə'lɔ:n'houp/
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Thân thiện
forlorn hope

A small group of soldiers volunteered for the forlorn hope.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A hopeless or desperate enterprise: A venture or undertaking that is almost certain to fail or is undertaken with little chance of success, often driven by desperation.
    • (Historical/Military) A group of soldiers selected for a perilous mission: A detachment of volunteers chosen for an extremely dangerous task, such as leading an assault.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • Trying to start a business in that economic climate was a forlorn hope.
    • The small team of researchers knew curing the disease was a forlorn hope, but they continued their work.
    • (Historical) The captain called for volunteers to form a forlorn hope and breach the castle walls.
Advanced Usage
  • "to be a forlorn hope": To be an endeavor with a very slim chance of success.
    • Winning the championship with this injured squad is a forlorn hope.
  • "to cling to a forlorn hope": To continue hoping for something that is very unlikely to happen.
    • He clung to the forlorn hope that she would return.
Variants and Related Words
  • Forlorn (adj): Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely. (e.g., ). Note: While related, the adjective "forlorn" is used separately from the noun phrase "forlorn hope."
  • Hope (n/v): The feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.
Synonyms
  • Lost cause: A person or thing that can no longer be helped or saved.
  • Quixotic quest: A pursuit that is exceedingly idealistic and unrealistic.
  • Desperate gamble: A risky action taken as a last resort.
Related Phrases
  • Mission impossible: A task that seems incapable of being accomplished. (This is a modern, informal equivalent).
  • Last-ditch effort: A final attempt made in a desperate situation.
Notes on Meaning

The term originates from 16th-century military Dutch ("verloren hoop," meaning "lost troop"). In English, it was reinterpreted through folk etymology, associating "hoop" with the English word "hope," which shaped its modern meaning of a desperate or futile undertaking. The two distinct meanings—the desperate enterprise and the historical military unit—are connected, as the soldiers in such a unit were on a mission with little hope of survival.

forlorn hope

A small group of soldiers volunteered for the forlorn hope.

Noun
  1. a hopeless or desperate enterprise