catch at a straw
verb
Roget 679:
misuse,
misemploy,
misapply,
misappropriate.
desecrate,
abuse,
profane,
prostitute: waste
etc.
638;
overtask,
overtax,
overwork: squander
etc.
818.
cut blocks with a razor,
employ a steam engine to crack a nut;
catch at a straw.
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Roget 858:
hope,
trust,
confide,
rely on,
put one's trust in;
lean upon;
pin one's hope upon,
pin one's faith upon
etc.
(believe)
484.
feel hope,
entertain hope,
harbor hope,
indulge hope,
cherish hope,
feed hope,
foster hope,
nourish hope,
encourage hope,
cling to hope,
live in hope,
etc.
n.;
see land;
feel assured,
rest assured,
feel confident,
rest confident
etc.
adj..
presume;
promise oneself;
expect
etc.
(look forward to)
507.
hope for
etc.
(desire)
865;
anticipate.
be hopeful
etc.
adj.;
look on the bright side of,
view on the sunny side,
voir en couleur de rose [Fr.],
make the best of it,
hope for the best;
put a good face upon,
put a bold face upon,
put the best face upon;
keep one's spirits up;
take heart,
take heart of grace;
be of good heart,
be of good cheer;
flatter oneself,
lay the flattering unction to one's soul,"
catch at a straw,
[Hamlet],
hope against hope,
reckon one's chickens before they are reckon one's chickens before they are hatched,
count one's chickens before they are hatched.
[cause hope]
give hope,
inspire hope,
raise hope,
hold out hope
etc.
n.;
promise,
bid fair,
augur well,
be in a fair way,
look up,
flatter,
tell a flattering tale;
raise expectations
(sentient subject);
encourage,
cheer,
assure,
reassure,
buoy up,
embolden.
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