forlorn hope

noun

1. a perilous or desperate enterprise.
2. a vain hope.
3. Obsolete. a group of soldiers assigned to perform some unusually dangerous service.

forlorn hope

noun

1. a hopeless or desperate enterprise
2. a faint hope
3. obsolete.
   a group of soldiers assigned to an extremely dangerous duty

Word History and Origins

Origin of forlorn hope¹

1530–40; folk-etymological alteration of Dutch verloren hoop literally, lost troop

Word History and Origins

Origin of forlorn hope¹

C16 (in the obsolete sense): changed (by folk etymology) from Dutch verloren hoop lost troop, from verloren , past participle of verliezen to lose + hoop troop (literally: heap)

Example Sentences

"I wasn't joking last night when I told Goodell that this was something of a forlorn hope," he said.

From Project Gutenberg

"The high and mighty sent me out to lead a forlorn hope," Mac dryly responded.

From Project Gutenberg

The same old battalions being called on again and again to do the forlorn hope sort of business.

From Project Gutenberg

Miles, leading the forlorn hope, was soon to pay the price of his daring.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a forlorn hope, in a forlorn cause, and it proved futile.

From Project Gutenberg