wishful thinking
She stared at the clock, her wishful thinking making her believe the meeting would end early.
Noun: * The illusion that what you wish for is actually true: The act or an instance of believing that something is true or will happen simply because one wants it to be, without evidence or in defiance of reality. It is a form of self-deception based on desire rather than facts.
"Wishful thinking" is used to describe a belief or hope that is based on desire, not on a rational assessment of the situation. It often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, implying that the person is ignoring reality. * It is commonly used with verbs like is, represents, indulge in, that's just, and don't rely on. * It can be the subject or object of a sentence.
- As a subject:
- His belief that he will win the lottery is pure wishful thinking.
- The company's projection of doubling sales this year seems like wishful thinking.
- As an object:
- We must avoid wishful thinking and look at the hard data.
- Don't mistake hope for wishful thinking; one is optimistic, the other is delusional.
- "To indulge in wishful thinking": To allow oneself to believe in a desired but unlikely outcome.
- I know I'm probably indulging in wishful thinking, but I hope they cancel the exam.
- "A case of wishful thinking": Used to label a specific instance.
- His plan to finish the project in one day was a clear case of wishful thinking.
- Wishful (adjective): Having or expressing a wish or desire.
- She gave him a wishful glance.
- Wishfully (adverb): In a manner expressing a wish.
- He thought wishfully about early retirement.
- Self-deception: The act of deceiving oneself.
- Delusion: A false belief held despite strong evidence against it.
- Fantasy: The faculty or activity of imagining impossible or improbable things.
- Pipe dream: An unrealistic hope or fantasy.
- Realism: The attitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is and dealing with it accordingly.
- Pragmatism: A practical approach to problems and affairs.
- Skepticism: A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
She stared at the clock, her wishful thinking making her believe the meeting would end early.
- the illusion that what you wish for is actually true