white hope

white hope
noun
someone (or something) expected to achieve great success in a given field
-

this company is the great white hope of the nuclear industry's waste management policy

• Syn: ↑great white hope
• Hypernyms: ↑hope

* * *

noun
1. slang : a white contender for a pugilistic championship held by a colored person
2. : one of which much is expected; especially : a person undertaking a difficult task

* * *

1. a person who is expected to accomplish much in a given field: the white hope of the American theater.
2. Sports. (formerly) a white man who had a good chance of winning the heavyweight boxing championship from a black man.
[1905-10]

* * *

white hope noun
A person on whom hopes for success, honour, etc are grounded (also great white hope)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑white

* * *

white hope,
1. Informal. a person or thing expected to be a success: »

The great white hope for the German aircraft industry was the European airbus (Sunday Times).

2. (perhaps originally) any white boxer who was thought capable of winning the heavyweight boxing championship from the American Negro boxer Jack Johnson between 1908 and 1915.

* * *

n. a person expected to bring much success to a group or organization

he was the great white hope for many kids trapped in bad lives

■ formerly, a white boxer believed by fans to be able to beat a black champion

* * *

ˌwhite ˈhope f15 noun singular (informal)
a person who is expected to bring success to a team, an organization, etc

•

He was once

the great white hope

of British boxing.

 
Word Origin:
[white hope] 1911: originally referring to a white boxer thought capable of beating Jack Johnson, the first black world heavyweight champion.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • white hope — (also great white hope) ► NOUN ▪ a person expected to bring much success to a team or organization …   English terms dictionary

  • white hope — c.1912, originally in sporting use in reference to the quest for a white man capable of beating champion pugilist Jack Johnson …   Etymology dictionary

  • white hope — white′ hope′ n. 1) a person who is expected to accomplish much in a given field 2) spo a white boxer at one time thought to have a good chance of winning a title held by a black • Etymology: 1905–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • white hope — ☆ white hope n. [term orig. applied to Caucasoid boxers who it was thought might defeat black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson ( c. 1910)] Informal any person who is expected to bring honor, glory, etc. to some group, place, etc …   English World dictionary

  • white hope — 1. a person who is expected to accomplish much in a given field: the white hope of the American theater. 2. Sports. (formerly) a white man who had a good chance of winning the heavyweight boxing championship from a black man. [1905 10] * * * …   Universalium

  • white hope — (also great white hope) noun a person who is expected to bring much success to a team or organization. Origin 1911: orig. referring to a white boxer thought capable of beating Jack Johnson, the first black world heavyweight champion …   English new terms dictionary

  • white hope — /waɪt ˈhoʊp/ (say wuyt hohp) noun someone who is expected to bring glory, etc., to a country, team, or other group which he or she represents: *this could be boxing s great white hope, a new Jack Dempsey. –sunday herald sun, 1992 …  

  • white hope — noun Date: 1911 1. a white contender for a boxing championship held by a black; also one who is felt to represent whites 2. one from whom much is expected; especially a person undertaking a difficult task …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • The Great White Hope — Infobox Play name = The Great White Hope caption = Book cover of the play writer = Howard Sackler characters = Jack Jefferson Eleanor Backman Goldie Tick Pop Weaver Dixon Clara Cap n Dan Al Cameron Mama Tiny Scipio setting = Late 1930s to mid… …   Wikipedia

  • great white hope — noun someone (or something) expected to achieve great success in a given field this company is the great white hope of the nuclear industry s waste management policy • Syn: ↑white hope • Hypernyms: ↑hope * * * great white hope [great white hope …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”