light at the end of the tunnel
Glimpse of relief
Light at the end of the tunnel is hope that a difficult situation will eventually improve or conclude.
The image is of someone traveling through darkness toward a visible exit: After months of chemotherapy, she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The phrase often appears with verbs like see or glimpse, and sometimes carries ironic warning—the light might be an oncoming train.
Tendency to expect good
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- faithTrust without proof
- promiseCommitment to act
- encouragementSupport spurring continued effort
inspiration · resilience · breakthrough · recovery · renewal · anticipation · fortitude · possibility
End or deduction
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- culminationHighest or final point
- completionAct of finishing
- fulfillmentState of achieved purpose
achievement · outcome · solution · breakthrough · ending · finish · arrival · destination
optimism
Tendency to expect good
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- faithTrust without proof
- promiseCommitment to act
encouragement · inspiration · resilience · breakthrough · recovery · renewal · anticipation · fortitude · possibility · morale
conclusion
End or deduction
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- culminationHighest or final point
- completionAct of finishing
fulfillment · achievement · outcome · solution · breakthrough · ending · finish · arrival · destination · relief
light at the end of the tunnelhopelessness
State without hope
despair · no end in sight · doom and gloom · desperation · bleakness
light at the end of the tunneldarkness
Total absence of light
hopelessness · despair · no end in sight · bottomless pit · downward spiral
light at the end of the tunnelgoing nowhere
Lacking progress or direction
spinning one's wheels · Sisyphean task · treadmill · hamster wheel · vicious circle
lights, lighted, lighting, lighter, lightest, enlighten, enlightenment, lighten, lightness