will-o-the-wisp
Elusive swamp light
A will-o-the-wisp is a pale light sometimes seen over marshes at night, caused by burning gases from decaying matter.
The phenomenon has inspired folklore about spirits luring travelers astray.
Figuratively, a will-o-the-wisp is anything elusive or deceptive—a goal that seems attainable but leads you nowhere: He spent years chasing the will-o-the-wisp of easy money.
Organism-generated light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- marsh gasWetland-produced flammable vapor
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
chemiluminescence · phosphine · decomposition · combustion · atmospheric phenomenon · natural light · spontaneous ignition · organic decay
Thing that tempts
- misleadCause false belief
- false hopeUnfounded expectation of success
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
delusion · fool's errand · snare · temptation · beguile · decoy · trickery · entice
Carved pumpkin with candle
- corpse candleSpectral flame foretelling death
- swamp gasMethane from decomposing wetlands
- wandering soulRestless, rootless person
- glowing orbBright, round light source
Impossible to acquire
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- intangibleNot physically present
- unreachableCannot be accessed
vanishing · slippery · quicksilver · mercurial · transient · evasive · impossible dream · pipe dream
bioluminescence
Organism-generated light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- marsh gasWetland-produced flammable vapor
oxidation · chemiluminescence · phosphine · decomposition · combustion · atmospheric phenomenon · natural light · spontaneous ignition · organic decay · gas emission
lure
Thing that tempts
- misleadCause false belief
- false hopeUnfounded expectation of success
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
mirage · delusion · fool's errand · snare · temptation · beguile · decoy · trickery · entice · bewitch
jack-o-lantern
Carved pumpkin with candle
- corpse candleSpectral flame foretelling death
- swamp gasMethane from decomposing wetlands
- wandering soulRestless, rootless person
unattainable
Impossible to acquire
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- intangibleNot physically present
unreachable · vanishing · slippery · quicksilver · mercurial · transient · evasive · impossible dream · pipe dream · ungraspable
- Scottish Lorekelpie, selkie, brownie, Loch Ness Monster, Nessie
- Untrustworthy Thingsbroken promise, fair-weather friend, snake in the grass, wolf in sheep's clothing, two-faced
- wetlandsswamp, swamps, marsh, marshes, marshland
- unattainablepipe dream, mirage, fantasy, utopia, chimera
will-o-the-wispsubstance
Physical material with mass
bedrock · terra firma · certainty · flesh and blood · brick and mortar
will-o-the-wispsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · bird in the hand · reality · safe bet · foregone conclusion
will-o-the-wispguiding light
Inspirational moral influence
lodestar · beacon · lighthouse · fixed star · North Star
will, wisp, wills, willed, willing, willingly, unwilling, willful, willfulness