wish on

British

verb

(tr, preposition) to hope that (someone or something) should be imposed (on someone); foist

I wouldn't wish my cold on anyone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

wish on Idioms

Foist or impose something on another, as in I wouldn't wish this job on my worst enemy. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

wish on

One night in a bout of frustration he makes a wish on a magic branch: that Nikki loved him as much as he loves her.

From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026

Like many parents who’ve experienced a CPS investigation, Buttigieg described it as “one of the most awful” experiences of his life, one he “wouldn’t wish on anybody.”

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Italy's Matteo Arnaldi says withdrawing from his first Grand Slam semi-final through illness is an experience he would "not wish on anybody".

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

From rare books to floating turntables, don’t be afraid to wish on the stars.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

It wasn’t something I would wish on anyone.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023