wishful thinking

noun
1.
interpretation of facts, actions, words, etc., as one would like them to be rather than as they really are; imagining as actual what is not.
Origin
1925-30
Related forms
wishful thinker, noun
Examples from the web for wishful thinking
  • The belief that such regimes need only a small shock to cause their implosion is probably wishful thinking.
  • The name of the game is estimation and wishful thinking.
  • Adjuncts are often to blame for taking care of themselves poorly and/or for wishful thinking.
  • Evidence that exposes this bit of wishful thinking for what it is is news as well.
  • wishful thinking as the old days are exactly that and students everywhere in the world are now using technology.
  • The idea behind the super-committee was pretty straightforward, if laced with wishful thinking.
  • So in a sense, it went from being a cynical story to being a movie about wishful thinking.
  • Here's our left-field, wishful thinking choice, and probably something that will never happen.
  • In the next few months, this wishful thinking proves to be a reasonable prediction.
  • That's simply wishful thinking for everyone but the largest museum or corporate icon.
British Dictionary definitions for wishful thinking

wishful thinking

noun
1.
the erroneous belief that one's wishes are in accordance with reality
Derived Forms
wishful thinker, noun
Idioms and Phrases with wishful thinking

wishful thinking

Interpreting matters as one would like them to be, as opposed to what they really are. For example, Matthew wanted to be a basketball player, but with his height that was wishful thinking. This term comes from Freudian psychology of the mid-1920s and soon began to be used more loosely.