“Abandon all hope” is an idiomatic expression that means to give up hope entirely, typically in a situation where nothing seems to be going right or when the outcome is bleak and seemingly impossible. It conveys a sense of despair, as if the chances of success or a positive resolution are gone, and no further efforts will make a difference. This phrase is often associated with extreme hopelessness, and it can be used to emphasize a final surrender to an unfavorable or hopeless situation. The phrase is most commonly linked to the line “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here,” from Dante’s Inferno, where it appears at the entrance of Hell, symbolizing the irreversible nature of damnation.
Sample Sentences:
- After the third rejection letter, she began to abandon all hope of finding a job.
- The soldiers abandoned all hope when they saw how overwhelming the enemy forces were.
- The doctors had to abandon all hope of saving the patient after the extensive injuries.
- As the storm raged on, the crew abandoned all hope of reaching the shore in time.
- He abandoned all hope of completing the project on time after the unexpected delays.
- Realizing they were out of options, the team abandoned all hope of winning the championship.
- She felt as though she had abandoned all hope of ever finding happiness.
- After failing the final exam twice, he started to abandon all hope of graduating.
- They abandoned all hope when the funding for the new initiative was cut.
- He abandoned all hope of reconciliation after the long-standing rift between them.
Synonyms:
- Give up all hope
- Lose hope
- Lose faith
- Despair
- Surrender hope
- Give in to despair
- Relinquish hope
- Be resigned to the outcome
- Accept defeat
Antonyms:
- Hope for the best
- Hold out hope
- Keep faith
- Stay optimistic
- Believe in a possibility
- Keep hope alive
- Expect a positive outcome
- Stay hopeful
- Trust in the future
Phrasal Verbs:
- Give up on (to stop hoping or trying for something)
- Lose faith in (to stop believing in the possibility of success or a positive outcome)
- Hold on to hope (to keep faith in a situation or outcome)
- Let go of hope (to stop clinging to the possibility of success)
- Hold out hope (to maintain hope, even when things are difficult)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- Throw in the towel (to give up on something entirely)
- Call it quits (to stop trying or give up entirely)
- Reach the end of the line (to come to a point where no further progress is possible)
- Hit rock bottom (to reach the lowest point, often when hope seems lost)
- Throw in the sponge (to give up, especially after repeated failure)
- Darkest before the dawn (to imply hope may arise even after the worst situation)
- A ray of hope (a small, hopeful sign in an otherwise hopeless situation)