great expectations: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (common in literary/cultural references, business/psychology discussions)Formal to semi-formal; common in literary, journalistic, business, and psychological contexts.
Quick answer
What does “great expectations” mean?
a phrase referring to high hopes or anticipated success, often used ironically when those hopes are disappointed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a phrase referring to high hopes or anticipated success, often used ironically when those hopes are disappointed; originally the title of Charles Dickens' novel about ambition and social mobility.
Can denote ambitious plans, optimistic forecasts (in business), or the burden of societal/familial pressure to succeed. Often implies a gap between aspiration and reality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in UK English due to stronger cultural familiarity with Dickens. In US English, may be used more in academic/literary contexts than colloquially.
Connotations
UK: Strong literary heritage, often with class/mobility themes. US: May emphasize personal ambition and the 'American Dream', sometimes with a psychological focus.
Frequency
Low in casual conversation for both, but recognised by educated speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “great expectations” in a Sentence
[Subject] + have + great expectations + for/of + [object][Subject] + be + weighed down by + great expectations[Great expectations] + lead to + [disappointment/outcome]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great expectations” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company is expected to deliver on the great expectations set by its new CEO.
- She great-expectationed her way into disappointment. (rare, creative)
American English
- The team great-expectationsed itself into a pressure cooker situation. (informal, inventive)
- Investors great-expectation the startup's future. (non-standard)
adverb
British English
- He approached life great-expectationedly, always aiming high.
- They invested great-expectationingly in the new scheme.
American English
- She waited great-expectation-ly for the results. (highly informal)
- They launched the product great-expectations-first.
adjective
British English
- He had a great-expectation look about him, full of untested optimism.
- The great-expectation era of the startup soon ended.
American English
- She faced great-expectation pressure from her family.
- It was a great-expectation venture from the start.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to overly optimistic market forecasts or investor outlooks that may not be met.
Academic
Used in literary criticism (Dickens studies), sociology (social mobility), psychology (parental pressure).
Everyday
Ironic comment about someone's ambitious plans. 'He moved to London with great expectations.'
Technical
Rare. Possibly in project management referring to stakeholder anticipation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great expectations”
- Using as singular (*a great expectation).
- Confusing with 'high expectations' (more general).
- Misspelling 'expectations'.
- Overusing outside relevant cultural/literary contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only when referring specifically to Dickens' novel. In general use, it's lower case: 'she had great expectations'.
Yes, but often with an implied risk of disappointment. It suggests high hopes, but the cultural shadow of the novel adds a note of caution.
Not in casual chat. It's more common in writing, formal speech, or when making a literary allusion.
Using it as a singular noun (*great expectation) or overusing it where simpler terms like 'high hopes' would suffice.
a phrase referring to high hopes or anticipated success, often used ironically when those hopes are disappointed.
Great expectations is usually formal to semi-formal; common in literary, journalistic, business, and psychological contexts. in register.
Great expectations: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ɛkspɛkˈteɪʃ(ə)nz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ɛkspɛkˈteɪʃənz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The great expectations trap”
- “A Dickensian twist of fate”
- “To be a Pip (referencing the novel's protagonist)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GREAT (large) weight of EXPECTATIONS (hopes) on someone's shoulders, like the main character Pip carrying his social ambitions.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPECTATIONS ARE A BURDEN / A JOURNEY (to be lived up to, carried, or embarked upon).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'great expectations' LEAST likely to be used naturally?