Why “hoping against hope”?Meaning of “pit technically something against something”What does “root against something” mean? Isn’t it an idiom?Urge Her Against HimIs “Race against the time” a well established motto?Is the idiom, “one person's word against another” or “another's”?against all oddsIs “Go against type” a stand-alone popular idiom?“Don't hold me against your decision”—grammatical?Help recall the exact idiom “I'm against my brother, I'm with my brother against my cousin, I'm with my brother and cousing against everyone else”“I hope she hangs the moon”
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Why “hoping against hope”?
Meaning of “pit technically something against something”What does “root against something” mean? Isn’t it an idiom?Urge Her Against HimIs “Race against the time” a well established motto?Is the idiom, “one person's word against another” or “another's”?against all oddsIs “Go against type” a stand-alone popular idiom?“Don't hold me against your decision”—grammatical?Help recall the exact idiom “I'm against my brother, I'm with my brother against my cousin, I'm with my brother and cousing against everyone else”“I hope she hangs the moon”
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.
- Aragorn in The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
I've heard this expression on occasion. It doesn't make much sense to me. I've never heard seeing against sight, or fearing against fear.
A friend who is not a native speaker was confused by this recently.
I'm looking for either the origin of this peculiar expression, or an explanation of the phrase's construction.
idioms
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
add a comment |
Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.
- Aragorn in The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
I've heard this expression on occasion. It doesn't make much sense to me. I've never heard seeing against sight, or fearing against fear.
A friend who is not a native speaker was confused by this recently.
I'm looking for either the origin of this peculiar expression, or an explanation of the phrase's construction.
idioms
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
3
You're right, it's weird. +1. I've always parsed it as "Hoping against [the fact that, in reality, there is no] hope", but I have absolutely no way to defend or support that from a grammatical or etymological perspective.
– Dan Bron
May 17 '15 at 0:53
@DanBron, well I have no explanation at all for those three words, so your's is not a bad suggestion.
– Paul Draper
May 17 '15 at 1:01
Maybe it's that if you have nothing, all you can have is hope - so, the only thing to support your hope, is hope, itself. "Hoping against hope" = hope, with only hope to support it.
– Oldbag
May 17 '15 at 11:11
Yeah, I've always considered it to be a weird expression. Rhetorician's answer is probably the best bet for an explanation of the origin and fundamental meaning -- continuing to hope in spite of the fact that "reason" says there is no hope.
– Hot Licks
May 17 '15 at 13:55
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope+against+hope
– Håkan Lindqvist
May 17 '15 at 21:52
add a comment |
Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.
- Aragorn in The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
I've heard this expression on occasion. It doesn't make much sense to me. I've never heard seeing against sight, or fearing against fear.
A friend who is not a native speaker was confused by this recently.
I'm looking for either the origin of this peculiar expression, or an explanation of the phrase's construction.
idioms
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.
- Aragorn in The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
I've heard this expression on occasion. It doesn't make much sense to me. I've never heard seeing against sight, or fearing against fear.
A friend who is not a native speaker was confused by this recently.
I'm looking for either the origin of this peculiar expression, or an explanation of the phrase's construction.
idioms
idioms
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
edited May 17 '15 at 13:02
Quillmondo
1,500916
1,500916
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
asked May 17 '15 at 0:41
Paul DraperPaul Draper
1,2652913
1,2652913
3
You're right, it's weird. +1. I've always parsed it as "Hoping against [the fact that, in reality, there is no] hope", but I have absolutely no way to defend or support that from a grammatical or etymological perspective.
– Dan Bron
May 17 '15 at 0:53
@DanBron, well I have no explanation at all for those three words, so your's is not a bad suggestion.
– Paul Draper
May 17 '15 at 1:01
Maybe it's that if you have nothing, all you can have is hope - so, the only thing to support your hope, is hope, itself. "Hoping against hope" = hope, with only hope to support it.
– Oldbag
May 17 '15 at 11:11
Yeah, I've always considered it to be a weird expression. Rhetorician's answer is probably the best bet for an explanation of the origin and fundamental meaning -- continuing to hope in spite of the fact that "reason" says there is no hope.
– Hot Licks
May 17 '15 at 13:55
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope+against+hope
– Håkan Lindqvist
May 17 '15 at 21:52
add a comment |
3
You're right, it's weird. +1. I've always parsed it as "Hoping against [the fact that, in reality, there is no] hope", but I have absolutely no way to defend or support that from a grammatical or etymological perspective.
– Dan Bron
May 17 '15 at 0:53
@DanBron, well I have no explanation at all for those three words, so your's is not a bad suggestion.
– Paul Draper
May 17 '15 at 1:01
Maybe it's that if you have nothing, all you can have is hope - so, the only thing to support your hope, is hope, itself. "Hoping against hope" = hope, with only hope to support it.
– Oldbag
May 17 '15 at 11:11
Yeah, I've always considered it to be a weird expression. Rhetorician's answer is probably the best bet for an explanation of the origin and fundamental meaning -- continuing to hope in spite of the fact that "reason" says there is no hope.
– Hot Licks
May 17 '15 at 13:55
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope+against+hope
– Håkan Lindqvist
May 17 '15 at 21:52
3
3
You're right, it's weird. +1. I've always parsed it as "Hoping against [the fact that, in reality, there is no] hope", but I have absolutely no way to defend or support that from a grammatical or etymological perspective.
– Dan Bron
May 17 '15 at 0:53
You're right, it's weird. +1. I've always parsed it as "Hoping against [the fact that, in reality, there is no] hope", but I have absolutely no way to defend or support that from a grammatical or etymological perspective.
– Dan Bron
May 17 '15 at 0:53
@DanBron, well I have no explanation at all for those three words, so your's is not a bad suggestion.
– Paul Draper
May 17 '15 at 1:01
@DanBron, well I have no explanation at all for those three words, so your's is not a bad suggestion.
– Paul Draper
May 17 '15 at 1:01
Maybe it's that if you have nothing, all you can have is hope - so, the only thing to support your hope, is hope, itself. "Hoping against hope" = hope, with only hope to support it.
– Oldbag
May 17 '15 at 11:11
Maybe it's that if you have nothing, all you can have is hope - so, the only thing to support your hope, is hope, itself. "Hoping against hope" = hope, with only hope to support it.
– Oldbag
May 17 '15 at 11:11
Yeah, I've always considered it to be a weird expression. Rhetorician's answer is probably the best bet for an explanation of the origin and fundamental meaning -- continuing to hope in spite of the fact that "reason" says there is no hope.
– Hot Licks
May 17 '15 at 13:55
Yeah, I've always considered it to be a weird expression. Rhetorician's answer is probably the best bet for an explanation of the origin and fundamental meaning -- continuing to hope in spite of the fact that "reason" says there is no hope.
– Hot Licks
May 17 '15 at 13:55
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope+against+hope
– Håkan Lindqvist
May 17 '15 at 21:52
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope+against+hope
– Håkan Lindqvist
May 17 '15 at 21:52
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
Rhetorician has pointed out correctly that this phrase is a quotation from the Bible (Romans 4:18), or, more precisely from the 17th-century King James version (“Who against hope believed in hope..”). The Greek original has: ὃς παρ᾽ἐλπίδα ἐπ᾽ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν, where the Apostle plays with the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete. A modern English literal rendering might then be: “Who against expectation believed in what he hoped for”.
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
add a comment |
The expression comes from the Bible, the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman Christians, chapter 4, verse 18. Here are some of the ways the expression could be translated. Each of the following has been altered slightly, but if you are interested in the exact wording, look here.
Even when there is no logical reason to hope, hope anyway.
Beyond hope, but maintaining faith in hope.
Past hope, but still hoping.
Against hope, but believing in hope.
Believing in hope, even when there's no reason to hope.
When there's nothing left to hope for, still hope.
Hope believed against hope.
Against hope, believe in hope.
Continue hoping even when there's no hope.
Against all hope, in hope believe.
Believe hopefully when utterly hopeless.
Against hope, in hope still believe.
And here are a few of my ways of expressing the thought:
Even when you're up against a hopeless situation, choose to hope anyway. (It beats giving up!)
Be hopeful even when things seem hopeless.
When a situation seems hopeless, hope anyway.
In context (read Romans 4:17-19) Romans 4:18 speaks of Abraham, the father of the Jews, who despite being close to 100 years old, and despite being married to Sarah who was well past childbearing years at the age of 90, chose to believe that God could do what he had promised more than two decades earlier to do; namely, to give him and Sarah a child of their own, through their own bodies.
For the complete story of Abraham's and Sarah's miracle child (viz., Isaac), read Genesis chapters 15, 16, and 18.
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
add a comment |
Rhetorician's explanation is right on target.
...the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete.
The two distinct meanings of hope, esperanza and esperança, in Spanish and Portuguese, Latin-based languages, continue—as they once did in English—to mean both hope and expectation. Hence, in expression "hope against hope," the sense of the phrase is "I hope against what I expect to happen."
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
add a comment |
In Romans, Paul is giving readers a definition of faith, which is to "hope against hope." In other words, when there is utterly no reason to hope, but still we do. That is, as Paul says, "reckoned" to us as faith.
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
add a comment |
What is against you, or whomever is against you is of course, an opposition or opposer. Its hope is that you fail, lose, despair, die, or whatever. You're hope is to get out this mess. It's a battle of wills, or in cases where the unknowns are not yet known to be against you but you perceive a challenge or opposition or even a test of your resolve that may be being decided, you naturally hope for a favorable outcome and do resist pessimistic thoughts and the possibility that this deliberate thing happening to you is someone else's hope. Divine or earthly. I never cared for the expression because it does not make sense as it stands.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Hope against hope means that you still keep your faith. Hoping when it seems there is no hope.
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
1
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
add a comment |
Your Answer
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6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Rhetorician has pointed out correctly that this phrase is a quotation from the Bible (Romans 4:18), or, more precisely from the 17th-century King James version (“Who against hope believed in hope..”). The Greek original has: ὃς παρ᾽ἐλπίδα ἐπ᾽ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν, where the Apostle plays with the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete. A modern English literal rendering might then be: “Who against expectation believed in what he hoped for”.
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
add a comment |
Rhetorician has pointed out correctly that this phrase is a quotation from the Bible (Romans 4:18), or, more precisely from the 17th-century King James version (“Who against hope believed in hope..”). The Greek original has: ὃς παρ᾽ἐλπίδα ἐπ᾽ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν, where the Apostle plays with the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete. A modern English literal rendering might then be: “Who against expectation believed in what he hoped for”.
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
add a comment |
Rhetorician has pointed out correctly that this phrase is a quotation from the Bible (Romans 4:18), or, more precisely from the 17th-century King James version (“Who against hope believed in hope..”). The Greek original has: ὃς παρ᾽ἐλπίδα ἐπ᾽ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν, where the Apostle plays with the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete. A modern English literal rendering might then be: “Who against expectation believed in what he hoped for”.
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
Rhetorician has pointed out correctly that this phrase is a quotation from the Bible (Romans 4:18), or, more precisely from the 17th-century King James version (“Who against hope believed in hope..”). The Greek original has: ὃς παρ᾽ἐλπίδα ἐπ᾽ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν, where the Apostle plays with the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete. A modern English literal rendering might then be: “Who against expectation believed in what he hoped for”.
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
answered Jun 21 '15 at 17:41
fdbfdb
5,1451323
5,1451323
add a comment |
add a comment |
The expression comes from the Bible, the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman Christians, chapter 4, verse 18. Here are some of the ways the expression could be translated. Each of the following has been altered slightly, but if you are interested in the exact wording, look here.
Even when there is no logical reason to hope, hope anyway.
Beyond hope, but maintaining faith in hope.
Past hope, but still hoping.
Against hope, but believing in hope.
Believing in hope, even when there's no reason to hope.
When there's nothing left to hope for, still hope.
Hope believed against hope.
Against hope, believe in hope.
Continue hoping even when there's no hope.
Against all hope, in hope believe.
Believe hopefully when utterly hopeless.
Against hope, in hope still believe.
And here are a few of my ways of expressing the thought:
Even when you're up against a hopeless situation, choose to hope anyway. (It beats giving up!)
Be hopeful even when things seem hopeless.
When a situation seems hopeless, hope anyway.
In context (read Romans 4:17-19) Romans 4:18 speaks of Abraham, the father of the Jews, who despite being close to 100 years old, and despite being married to Sarah who was well past childbearing years at the age of 90, chose to believe that God could do what he had promised more than two decades earlier to do; namely, to give him and Sarah a child of their own, through their own bodies.
For the complete story of Abraham's and Sarah's miracle child (viz., Isaac), read Genesis chapters 15, 16, and 18.
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
add a comment |
The expression comes from the Bible, the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman Christians, chapter 4, verse 18. Here are some of the ways the expression could be translated. Each of the following has been altered slightly, but if you are interested in the exact wording, look here.
Even when there is no logical reason to hope, hope anyway.
Beyond hope, but maintaining faith in hope.
Past hope, but still hoping.
Against hope, but believing in hope.
Believing in hope, even when there's no reason to hope.
When there's nothing left to hope for, still hope.
Hope believed against hope.
Against hope, believe in hope.
Continue hoping even when there's no hope.
Against all hope, in hope believe.
Believe hopefully when utterly hopeless.
Against hope, in hope still believe.
And here are a few of my ways of expressing the thought:
Even when you're up against a hopeless situation, choose to hope anyway. (It beats giving up!)
Be hopeful even when things seem hopeless.
When a situation seems hopeless, hope anyway.
In context (read Romans 4:17-19) Romans 4:18 speaks of Abraham, the father of the Jews, who despite being close to 100 years old, and despite being married to Sarah who was well past childbearing years at the age of 90, chose to believe that God could do what he had promised more than two decades earlier to do; namely, to give him and Sarah a child of their own, through their own bodies.
For the complete story of Abraham's and Sarah's miracle child (viz., Isaac), read Genesis chapters 15, 16, and 18.
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
add a comment |
The expression comes from the Bible, the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman Christians, chapter 4, verse 18. Here are some of the ways the expression could be translated. Each of the following has been altered slightly, but if you are interested in the exact wording, look here.
Even when there is no logical reason to hope, hope anyway.
Beyond hope, but maintaining faith in hope.
Past hope, but still hoping.
Against hope, but believing in hope.
Believing in hope, even when there's no reason to hope.
When there's nothing left to hope for, still hope.
Hope believed against hope.
Against hope, believe in hope.
Continue hoping even when there's no hope.
Against all hope, in hope believe.
Believe hopefully when utterly hopeless.
Against hope, in hope still believe.
And here are a few of my ways of expressing the thought:
Even when you're up against a hopeless situation, choose to hope anyway. (It beats giving up!)
Be hopeful even when things seem hopeless.
When a situation seems hopeless, hope anyway.
In context (read Romans 4:17-19) Romans 4:18 speaks of Abraham, the father of the Jews, who despite being close to 100 years old, and despite being married to Sarah who was well past childbearing years at the age of 90, chose to believe that God could do what he had promised more than two decades earlier to do; namely, to give him and Sarah a child of their own, through their own bodies.
For the complete story of Abraham's and Sarah's miracle child (viz., Isaac), read Genesis chapters 15, 16, and 18.
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
The expression comes from the Bible, the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman Christians, chapter 4, verse 18. Here are some of the ways the expression could be translated. Each of the following has been altered slightly, but if you are interested in the exact wording, look here.
Even when there is no logical reason to hope, hope anyway.
Beyond hope, but maintaining faith in hope.
Past hope, but still hoping.
Against hope, but believing in hope.
Believing in hope, even when there's no reason to hope.
When there's nothing left to hope for, still hope.
Hope believed against hope.
Against hope, believe in hope.
Continue hoping even when there's no hope.
Against all hope, in hope believe.
Believe hopefully when utterly hopeless.
Against hope, in hope still believe.
And here are a few of my ways of expressing the thought:
Even when you're up against a hopeless situation, choose to hope anyway. (It beats giving up!)
Be hopeful even when things seem hopeless.
When a situation seems hopeless, hope anyway.
In context (read Romans 4:17-19) Romans 4:18 speaks of Abraham, the father of the Jews, who despite being close to 100 years old, and despite being married to Sarah who was well past childbearing years at the age of 90, chose to believe that God could do what he had promised more than two decades earlier to do; namely, to give him and Sarah a child of their own, through their own bodies.
For the complete story of Abraham's and Sarah's miracle child (viz., Isaac), read Genesis chapters 15, 16, and 18.
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
answered May 17 '15 at 1:47
rhetoricianrhetorician
16.6k22253
16.6k22253
add a comment |
add a comment |
Rhetorician's explanation is right on target.
...the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete.
The two distinct meanings of hope, esperanza and esperança, in Spanish and Portuguese, Latin-based languages, continue—as they once did in English—to mean both hope and expectation. Hence, in expression "hope against hope," the sense of the phrase is "I hope against what I expect to happen."
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
add a comment |
Rhetorician's explanation is right on target.
...the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete.
The two distinct meanings of hope, esperanza and esperança, in Spanish and Portuguese, Latin-based languages, continue—as they once did in English—to mean both hope and expectation. Hence, in expression "hope against hope," the sense of the phrase is "I hope against what I expect to happen."
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
add a comment |
Rhetorician's explanation is right on target.
...the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete.
The two distinct meanings of hope, esperanza and esperança, in Spanish and Portuguese, Latin-based languages, continue—as they once did in English—to mean both hope and expectation. Hence, in expression "hope against hope," the sense of the phrase is "I hope against what I expect to happen."
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
Rhetorician's explanation is right on target.
...the double meaning of ἐλπίς, which can mean both (positive) “hope” and (neutral) “expectation”. In older English “hope” also had both meanings, but the latter is now obsolete.
The two distinct meanings of hope, esperanza and esperança, in Spanish and Portuguese, Latin-based languages, continue—as they once did in English—to mean both hope and expectation. Hence, in expression "hope against hope," the sense of the phrase is "I hope against what I expect to happen."
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
edited Jul 4 '18 at 0:09
Sven Yargs
115k20254508
115k20254508
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
answered Jul 3 '18 at 23:45
NOLNOL
111
111
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
add a comment |
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
In Portuguese it is esperança, not esperanza
– gmauch
Jul 3 '18 at 23:57
add a comment |
In Romans, Paul is giving readers a definition of faith, which is to "hope against hope." In other words, when there is utterly no reason to hope, but still we do. That is, as Paul says, "reckoned" to us as faith.
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
add a comment |
In Romans, Paul is giving readers a definition of faith, which is to "hope against hope." In other words, when there is utterly no reason to hope, but still we do. That is, as Paul says, "reckoned" to us as faith.
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
add a comment |
In Romans, Paul is giving readers a definition of faith, which is to "hope against hope." In other words, when there is utterly no reason to hope, but still we do. That is, as Paul says, "reckoned" to us as faith.
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
In Romans, Paul is giving readers a definition of faith, which is to "hope against hope." In other words, when there is utterly no reason to hope, but still we do. That is, as Paul says, "reckoned" to us as faith.
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
answered Jul 7 '17 at 0:27
Rev. Dr. John CleghornRev. Dr. John Cleghorn
1
1
add a comment |
add a comment |
What is against you, or whomever is against you is of course, an opposition or opposer. Its hope is that you fail, lose, despair, die, or whatever. You're hope is to get out this mess. It's a battle of wills, or in cases where the unknowns are not yet known to be against you but you perceive a challenge or opposition or even a test of your resolve that may be being decided, you naturally hope for a favorable outcome and do resist pessimistic thoughts and the possibility that this deliberate thing happening to you is someone else's hope. Divine or earthly. I never cared for the expression because it does not make sense as it stands.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
What is against you, or whomever is against you is of course, an opposition or opposer. Its hope is that you fail, lose, despair, die, or whatever. You're hope is to get out this mess. It's a battle of wills, or in cases where the unknowns are not yet known to be against you but you perceive a challenge or opposition or even a test of your resolve that may be being decided, you naturally hope for a favorable outcome and do resist pessimistic thoughts and the possibility that this deliberate thing happening to you is someone else's hope. Divine or earthly. I never cared for the expression because it does not make sense as it stands.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
What is against you, or whomever is against you is of course, an opposition or opposer. Its hope is that you fail, lose, despair, die, or whatever. You're hope is to get out this mess. It's a battle of wills, or in cases where the unknowns are not yet known to be against you but you perceive a challenge or opposition or even a test of your resolve that may be being decided, you naturally hope for a favorable outcome and do resist pessimistic thoughts and the possibility that this deliberate thing happening to you is someone else's hope. Divine or earthly. I never cared for the expression because it does not make sense as it stands.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
What is against you, or whomever is against you is of course, an opposition or opposer. Its hope is that you fail, lose, despair, die, or whatever. You're hope is to get out this mess. It's a battle of wills, or in cases where the unknowns are not yet known to be against you but you perceive a challenge or opposition or even a test of your resolve that may be being decided, you naturally hope for a favorable outcome and do resist pessimistic thoughts and the possibility that this deliberate thing happening to you is someone else's hope. Divine or earthly. I never cared for the expression because it does not make sense as it stands.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
answered 28 mins ago
Ted JTed J
1
1
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Ted J is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
Hope against hope means that you still keep your faith. Hoping when it seems there is no hope.
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
1
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
add a comment |
Hope against hope means that you still keep your faith. Hoping when it seems there is no hope.
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
1
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
add a comment |
Hope against hope means that you still keep your faith. Hoping when it seems there is no hope.
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
Hope against hope means that you still keep your faith. Hoping when it seems there is no hope.
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:57
HopegirlHopegirl
7
7
1
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
add a comment |
1
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
1
1
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
Welcome to ELU. This is a Question and Answer site, not a discussion forum. As such, when you type an Answer you should make sure that it answers the Question. If you re-read the question it is not about what the phrase means, but rather why it is taken to mean that, and hence how the phrase originated. The other two answers provide this; yours, I'm afraid, doesn't.
– AndyT
Jun 28 '17 at 11:09
add a comment |
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3
You're right, it's weird. +1. I've always parsed it as "Hoping against [the fact that, in reality, there is no] hope", but I have absolutely no way to defend or support that from a grammatical or etymological perspective.
– Dan Bron
May 17 '15 at 0:53
@DanBron, well I have no explanation at all for those three words, so your's is not a bad suggestion.
– Paul Draper
May 17 '15 at 1:01
Maybe it's that if you have nothing, all you can have is hope - so, the only thing to support your hope, is hope, itself. "Hoping against hope" = hope, with only hope to support it.
– Oldbag
May 17 '15 at 11:11
Yeah, I've always considered it to be a weird expression. Rhetorician's answer is probably the best bet for an explanation of the origin and fundamental meaning -- continuing to hope in spite of the fact that "reason" says there is no hope.
– Hot Licks
May 17 '15 at 13:55
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope+against+hope
– Håkan Lindqvist
May 17 '15 at 21:52