Raise expectations

Posted by Baceseras on August 02, 2007

In Reply to: Raise expectations posted by Baceseras on August 01, 2007

: : Can anyone think of a phrase that means to falsely raise someone's expectations, only to possibly dash them again?

: "Bait and switch" comes to mind --- it's the name of a swindler's ploy which has passed into general usage, seeming to offer some attractive "bait" which is switched at the last minute for something worthless.

On the other hand, if you don't mean to imply a malicious intent to deceive, you could simply say that someone "gave false hope". Or more colloquially, "It's all moonshine" --- in this case the word "moonshine" refers not to untaxed liquor but to the way a nimbus of soft light makes any prospect appear lovely, which in plain sight may turn out to be a wasteland or a garbage dump, or worse.

• Raise expectations ESC 02/August/07
  • Raise expectations pamela 03/August/07
    • Raise expectations ESC 03/August/07