white hope

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]

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Universalium. 2010.

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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 — 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 …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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

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