soap-bubble

A child blows a soap-bubble into the air.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hollow sphere of soapy liquid: A "soap-bubble" is a thin, spherical film of soap and water filled with air, often iridescent and short-lived.
   • Something insubstantial or fragile: Figuratively, a "soap-bubble" refers to anything that is attractive but fleeting, fragile, or lacking real substance, like an illusion or a deceptive scheme.

Usage Examples

• Literal:

  • The child blew a soap-bubble that floated gently across the garden. (A thin, iridescent sphere of soapy liquid.)
  • The soap-bubble popped as soon as it touched the grass. (The fragile sphere burst upon contact.)

• Figurative:

  • Their dreams of easy wealth turned out to be a soap-bubble. (An attractive but insubstantial illusion.)
  • The company's reputation was a soap-bubble, collapsing under scrutiny. (A fragile or deceptive appearance.)

Advanced Usage

• "to burst someone's soap-bubble": to shatter someone's illusion or unrealistic expectation.

  • The critic's harsh review burst the actor's soap-bubble of perfect success. (Destroyed the actor's unrealistic self-image.)

• "as fragile as a soap-bubble": extremely delicate or temporary.

  • Their happiness was as fragile as a soap-bubble, vanishing with the first disagreement. (Extremely delicate and short-lived.)

Variants and Related Words

• Soap bubble (n, variant spelling): the same meaning, often written as two words.

  • She watched the soap bubble drift upward. (Same as soap-bubble.)

• Bubble (n, related word): a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air, often used alone for soap-bubbles.

  • He blew a large bubble with his gum. (A sphere of air in liquid.)

Synonyms

• Illusion: something that deceives by producing a false impression.
• Fantasy: a product of imagination, often unrealistic.
• Delusion: a false belief or opinion.

Related Idioms

• Burst someone's bubble: to destroy someone's unrealistic optimism or illusion.

  • The news about the job cut burst his bubble of security. (Ended his false sense of safety.)

• Like a bubble: short-lived, fragile, or easily destroyed.

  • Their excitement was like a bubble, gone in a moment. (Temporary and fragile.)