will-o-wisp
Swamp's floating lantern
A will-o'-the-wisp is a flickering light sometimes seen over marshes at night, caused by gases from decaying matter.
Because such lights seem to recede when approached, will-o'-the-wisp came to mean any elusive goal or hope that leads people astray: He spent years chasing the will-o'-the-wisp of perfect happiness.
Also spelled will-o-wisp.
Organism-generated light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- marsh gasWetland-produced flammable vapor
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
chemiluminescence · decomposition · natural phenomenon · combustion · organic decay · glowing gas · biogas · spontaneous ignition
Misleading sensory impression
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
false hope · pipe dream · unattainable · fleeting · deception · lure · temptation · wild goose chase
Carved pumpkin with candle
- corpse candleSpectral flame foretelling death
- swamp gasMethane from decomposing wetlands
- wandering soulRestless, rootless person
- death omenSign predicting someone's passing
bioluminescence
Organism-generated light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- marsh gasWetland-produced flammable vapor
oxidation · chemiluminescence · decomposition · natural phenomenon · combustion · organic decay · glowing gas · biogas · spontaneous ignition · plasma
illusion
Misleading sensory impression
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
mirage · false hope · pipe dream · unattainable · fleeting · deception · lure · temptation · wild goose chase · fool's errand
jack-o-lantern
Carved pumpkin with candle
- corpse candleSpectral flame foretelling death
- swamp gasMethane from decomposing wetlands
- wandering soulRestless, rootless person
- American folklorePaul Bunyan, tall tales, folk heroes, John Henry, folk narratives
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- enchanted forestfairy, fairies, elf, elves, pixie
- fairy magicfairy dust, pixie dust, fairy rings, fairy godmother, glamour
- Fairylandfairy, pixie, sprite, elf, fae
- ghostsapparitions, ghosts, apparition, phantoms, specter
will-o-wispcertainty
Total absence of doubt
substance · bedrock · terra firma · solid ground · flesh and blood
will-o-wispsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · bird in the hand · done deal · safe bet · foregone conclusion
will-o-wisptrue north
Direction to the pole
lodestar · beacon · North Star · lighthouse · Polaris
will, wisp, wills, willed, willing, willingly, unwilling, unwillingness, willful