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Meaning & use

will-o'-the-wisp

noun·Advancedliterary

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UK/ˌwɪl ə ðə ˈwɪsp/
US/ˌwɪl ə ðə ˈwɪsp/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A faint light seen at night over marshy ground, in folklore believed to lead travelers astray.

    Grammar: Takes an or the: a will-o'-the-wisp flickered over the bog.

    Patterns

    • follow a will-o'-the-wisp
    • a will-o'-the-wisp in the marsh

    Travelers told stories of a will-o'-the-wisp that led people into the bog.

    A pale will-o'-the-wisp seemed to float over the marsh.

    In the legend, the will-o'-the-wisp lures children away from the path.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    Something that is hoped for or chased but can never be reached or caught.

    Grammar: Usually figurative: chase a will-o'-the-wisp.

    Patterns

    • chase a will-o'-the-wisp
    • a will-o'-the-wisp of something

    Financial independence became a will-o'-the-wisp that he chased for decades.

    The perfect job proved a will-o'-the-wisp.

    Peace seemed to be a will-o'-the-wisp in the region.

Word forms

pluralwill-o'-the-wisps

Common combinations

chase a will-o'-the-wisp
Investors who chase a will-o'-the-wisp often lose money.
follow a will-o'-the-wisp
Poets wrote of travelers who followed a will-o'-the-wisp.
a will-o'-the-wisp over the marsh
A will-o'-the-wisp danced over the marsh.
like a will-o'-the-wisp
Success flickered like a will-o'-the-wisp.

Synonyms and how they differ

ignis fatuus
This is the Latin term, more learned and rare than will-o'-the-wisp.
mirage
Mirage is a visual illusion in the heat and is usually used for hopes that prove false.
illusion
This is general and does not carry the idea of leading someone astray like the folklore light does.
pipe dream
This is informal and stresses an unrealistic wish, not an elusive thing that is pursued.

Opposites

realitycertainty

Word family

wisp noun
a thin, light bundle or strand
wispy adjective
thin and light
marsh noun
soft, wet land
elusive adjective
difficult to find or catch

Commonly confused: will-o'-the-wisp or willow the wisp?

will-o'-the-wisp vs willow the wisp

This is a mis-hearing; the phrase is will-o'-the-wisp, from Will of the wisp.

Practice

Chasing perfect happiness turned out to be a _____ for her, always out of reach.

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