pin one’s hopes on, to - To attach one’s aspirations for success to a particular event, individual, or the like. This term began in the sixteenth century as pin one’s faith on another’s sleeve and appeared in this form in John Ray’s 1678 proverb collection. Ebenezer Brewer believed it came from the feudal practice of troops wearing their leader’s badge on their sleeves. Since badges and loyalties sometimes changed, people became wary of judging where one stood from such a badge and said they would not pin their faith on someone’s sleeve. By the nineteenth century, however, hopes were replacing faith (at least in this term) and sleeves were lost altogether.
Related and Similar Terms:
- Put all your eggs in one basket - To risk everything on the success of one venture.
- Bank on - To rely or count on.
- Bet everything on - To wager all resources on a single outcome.
- Roll the dice on - To take a risk on something uncertain.
Proverbs and Quotes:
- “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” 🐣
- “Fortune favors the bold.” 🧭
- “Hope is the dream of a waking man.” – Aristotle 🌅
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens 📖
- “Hope Floats”, a film starring Sandra Bullock 🎬
- “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey 🎵
- “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson 🌸
Synonyms and Antonyms: Synonyms:
- Rely on
- Trust in
- Depend on
Antonyms:
- Distrust
- Doubt
- Mistrust
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell: May you always find the right place to pin your hopes, and never forget that sometimes, it’s the journey of searching where to pin them that brings the real joy. Where will you pin your hopes next? Keep dreaming, keep exploring.
💭✨ W. T. Wittywords, signing off!
Published: 2023-10-01
