see the glass half-empty
Focus on lack
To see the glass half-empty is to focus on what's lacking rather than what's present—to interpret situations pessimistically.
The phrase comes from the classic question about whether a glass filled to its midpoint is half-full or half-empty, used as a test of optimism versus pessimism.
She always sees the glass half-empty, even when things are going well.
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- despairTotal absence of hope
- optimismTendency to expect good
- tunnel visionInability to see periphery
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
hopelessness · rumination · overgeneralization · learned helplessness · melancholy · cynicism · sour grapes · gloom · dark cloud · negativity bias · fatalism · self-doubt · anxiety · defeatism · woe is me · sadness · doomscrolling · frustration
see the glass half-emptysee the glass half-full
Adopt an optimistic outlook
optimistic · look on the bright side · hopeful · positive · count one's blessings
see the glass half-emptygrateful
Feeling thankful
content · cheerful · buoyant · sunny · lighthearted
see the glass half-emptysee the glass half-full
Adopt an optimistic outlook
look on the bright side · think positive · hope for the best · keep one's chin up · wear rose-colored glasses
seeing, glass, glasses, glassed, glassing, glassy, glazed, halves, halved