will-o'-the-wisp
Elusive swamp glow
A will-o'-the-wisp is a flickering light seen over marshes at night, caused by the combustion of gases from decaying matter.
Because these lights appear to recede when approached, the term describes anything elusive or deceptive—an unattainable goal or misleading hope: He spent years chasing the will-o'-the-wisp of easy wealth.
Also called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern.
Methane from decomposing wetlands
- bioluminescenceOrganism-generated light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
oxidation · wetland · peat bog · mire · stagnant water · night light · atmospheric · glimmer
Hard to find
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- intangibleNot physically present
- uncatchableCannot be seized
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
fugitive · misleading · deceptive · luring · beckoning · tantalizing · beguiling · enticing
Visible supernatural manifestation
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- ghostApparition of the dead
- wraithSpectral apparition of someone
shade · spirit · haunting · supernatural · unearthly · otherworldly · eerie · luminous
Carved pumpkin with light
- corpse candleSpectral flame foretelling death
- wandering soulRestless, rootless person
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- vanishingCeasing to be visible
fading · momentary · passing · short-lived · impermanent · dissipating · flickering · wavering
swamp gas
Methane from decomposing wetlands
- bioluminescenceOrganism-generated light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
decomposition · oxidation · wetland · peat bog · mire · stagnant water · night light · atmospheric · glimmer · glow
elusive
Hard to find
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- intangibleNot physically present
- uncatchableCannot be seized
slippery · fugitive · misleading · deceptive · luring · beckoning · tantalizing · beguiling · enticing · chimera
apparition
Visible supernatural manifestation
wraith · shade · spirit · haunting · supernatural · unearthly · otherworldly · eerie · luminous · glowing
jack-o'-lantern
Carved pumpkin with light
- corpse candleSpectral flame foretelling death
- wandering soulRestless, rootless person
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
vanishing · fading · momentary · passing · short-lived · impermanent · dissipating · flickering · wavering · insubstantial
will-o'-the-wispsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · reality · bird in the hand · fait accompli · done deal
will-o'-the-wisplighthouse
Coastal beacon tower
beacon · North Star · guiding light · lodestar · lantern
will-o'-the-wispbedrock
Solid stone underground
solid ground · rock · anchor · foundation · constant
willing, unwilling, willful, wisp, wispy, willingness, willfully, willy-nilly, wisps