unexpressed hope

[/ˌʌn.ɪkˈsprɛst hoʊp/]
noun phrasepl: unexpressed hopes
esperança não expressa
1. A feeling of optimism or desire for a positive outcome that has not been verbally communicated or made manifest to others
She carried an unexpressed hope that he would return someday.
Ela carregava uma esperança não expressa de que ele voltaria um dia.
2. An internal wish or expectation that remains unspoken and hidden from view
His unexpressed hope for reconciliation lingered beneath the surface of their conversations.
Sua esperança não expressa de reconciliação permanecia abaixo da superfície de suas conversas.
This phrase resonates strongly in both American and Brazilian contexts, often appearing in literature and personal narratives. In Brazilian culture, it frequently relates to themes of resilience and perseverance through hardship, while in American usage it often appears in romantic or redemptive contexts. The concept reflects universal human experiences of quiet optimism and emotional restraint.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
silent hopeunspoken hopehidden hopesuppressed hopeconcealed optimism
Antonyms / Antônimos
expressed hopestated hopearticulated hopevoiced optimism

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
esperança não expressa
Standard term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
esperança guardada
Common informal variant emphasizing the guarded nature
São Paulo
esperança não dita
Alternative phrasing emphasizing the unspoken aspect
Portugal
esperança não expressa
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; formal and literary contexts preferred

Related Words

hopeyearningaspirationwishful thinkingimplicit desire

Related Idioms & Phrases

hope against hope
a glimmer of hope
keep hope alive
hope springs eternal
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →