crystal gazing

American  

noun

1. the practice of staring into a crystal ball, as by a fortuneteller, to see distant happenings, future events, etc.

2. speculation about the future.

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crystal gazing British  

noun

1. the act of staring into a crystal globe (crystal ball) supposedly in order to arouse visual perceptions of the future, etc

2. the act of trying to predict something

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Other Word Forms

• crystal gazer noun

Etymology

Origin of crystal gazing

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

British newspapers carried blow-by-blow accounts of the trial with headlines like 'Mussoorie murder trial', 'hotel mystery' and the 'crystal gazing trial'.

From BBC

Determining when quantum computers will become ubiquitous and what problems they will solve is an exercise in crystal gazing.

From Scientific American

“Some people might do a tarot-card reading or crystal gazing, trying to get a sense of things coming up, a sense of where things might be going,” said Raymond.

From Seattle Times

Ms. Williamson took umbrage at the interviewer’s “crystal gazing” remark, declaring that “there is no crystal” in her home.

From Washington Times

He had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing.

From Literature

Related Words

• forecast
• forecasting
• guess
• indicator
• prognosis
• prophecy